A newly refurbished splash pad in Wallingford opened for the first time on Saturday (July 8), as families ignored grey skies and enjoyed a range of new children’s features.

The aqua play area at Riverside Park and Pools has undergone an almost £300,000 refurbishment and is free to use with no booking required.

Water arches, sky drenchers, and a ‘whoosh shower’ are just some of the new features of the site, which is owned by South Oxfordshire District Council.

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It also includes ‘tap tap’ activators which trigger water sequences and play zones for children of different ages and abilities.

District councillor Pieter-Paul Barker visited the facility on its opening day.

Oxford Mail: Splash pad in Wallingford in operation

He said: “This fantastic splash pad is just going to attract even more people to the area which will have a great impact on the local economy.”

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The refurbishment, which started in May, also removed uneven paving slabs, repaired parts of the promenade and perimeter of the site, and installed a new disabled access pathway from the splash pad to the car park to make access easier for wheelchair-users and those using buggies and pushchairs. 

The new surface is made of a rubber crumb with UV protection to prevent algae forming which will reduce the chances of slips and falls.

The facility, which uses river water and rainfall, minimises water and power use to help reduce its carbon emissions.

The water is circulated and cleaned through plantroom equipment on site to make sure that it is safe for users.

The splash pads will be turned on every day from 9am to 6pm.