New spray park delayed, but Riverside Park to see accessible playground open in the fall, city says

Photo: City of Kamloops

Riverside Park, pictured before work began on a large capital project that saw a new dike added to protect infrastructure in the park, and the start of construction on a new spray park. The city said the spray park opening has been delayed until next year, but a new accessible playground, approved by council earlier this spring, is set to open in the fall.

Supply chain issues have delayed the opening of Riverside Park’s new spray park, but the City of Kamloops says it plans to have an inclusive playground ready by early fall.

On Friday, the city said plans are moving ahead for the construction of the new, fully-accessible playground in Riverside Park, which council approved as a supplementary budget item earlier this spring.

The play structure — the first of its kind in Kamloops — will be installed adjacent to the existing playground in the park.

In a statement released by the City of Kamloops, wheelchair athlete Jill Moore — who assists in product development for the playground vendor — applauded the planned addition to the park.

“Designing for inclusion is all about providing the just-right fit for every single person who comes to play, whatever their ability may be, and we see this throughout the Riverside Park design which truly invites everyone,” Moore said.

“We believe people with disabilities should get to control their environment, be it spinning, swinging, swaying, etc., and we try to integrate that as much as possible.”

While the playground is expected to be complete by early fall 2022, the city said the spray park will not be operational this year, “due to unforeseen circumstances and supply chain issues.”

The new, accessible spray park will replace the aging water park, with the concrete pad built to accommodate the possibility of a future skating rink.

The city said it is expected to “open with a splash” in summer 2023.

Riverside Park will be home to a new fully accessible playground this fall! Read the full update on the Riverside Park Project here: https://t.co/ax2Ss5v0l3#Kamloops pic.twitter.com/RSyCr0GwHI

— City of Kamloops (@cityofkamloops) June 24, 2022