Discussions

Spray Parks

Abbysmum
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 5039

Abbysmum
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 5039

Spray Parks
5/22/2016 at 9:07 PM

I sure wish the city could open the spray parks earlier than they do! My kids are already bugging me about it.

I see Winnipeg has theirs open this weekend already. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-splash-pads-open-1.3595907

and I know Killarney's is open this weekend too!
Mamato3
Joined: This month
Posts: 481

Mamato3
Joined: This month
Posts: 481

yes
5/22/2016 at 11:28 PM

I feel the same way!!! I think they should open them every year in accordance with how the weather has been this year. But I think it may have to do with the people who are "lifeguards" are all college or high school students who may not be dove school yet??? Just my guess
Ladybug
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 239

Ladybug
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 239

then hire people who can start now...
5/22/2016 at 11:59 PM

I think it's a huge waste of money that the city put into those parks, to only be open for July and August. Why not open them now? Weather permitting? And maybe only weekends? Or open a couple of them, it would be nice to see them used more. I wonder what the reasoning is?
Orion's-Belt
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 579

Orion's-Belt
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 579

Dress code.
5/23/2016 at 8:47 AM

I remember previous years I read stuff on ebrandon about what kids can and cannot where at splash parks. Swim diapers or bathing suits.? Shirts or no shirts.? Does anyone have the dress code rules as to what kids can where at the splash parks.?
dueindecember
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 724

dueindecember
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 724

clothes
5/23/2016 at 8:51 AM

swim diaper if needed and bathing suit. they can't run through in their street clothes
sammy
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8749

sammy
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8749

.
5/23/2016 at 3:41 PM

I know I say it every year but I also wish they'd open them sooner. During the day in June it would be utilized by toddlers with parents/daycare/caregivers so they'd be supervised and I don't think there's a huge need for lifeguards. Other spray parks in different towns are unsupervised to my knowledge. A city worker could check in once and awhile if needed....
james
Joined: This month
Posts: 369

james
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Posts: 369

.
5/23/2016 at 4:33 PM

killarney spray park was going today.
dueindecember
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 724

dueindecember
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 724

shilo
5/24/2016 at 3:12 AM

shilo spray park is open
Abbysmum
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 5039

Abbysmum
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 5039

attendents
5/24/2016 at 2:04 PM

Do they really need attendents/lifeguards?

We've been to the one in Central Park in Winnipeg. Not a staff member in site, and the wading pool's drains are left open so that no water accumulates in it, but the sprayers were on. It was wonderful.

The things are on timers, on the most part are they not? Why can't they just turn them on and let 'er rip?

I get the the wading/paddle pools need to be staffed, and that if they're using students they need to be out of school, but there's no good reason to have the sprayers off otherwise.
Tamara79
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2102

Tamara79
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2102

staff
5/24/2016 at 2:53 PM

I actually don't agree with the posters that say staff aren''t needed. The staff isn''t just there for any potential medical situations, but also to ensure that the rules are followed and to protect the equipment. I absolutely think staff is needed for that reason, we frequent all the spray parks and the staff is constantly having to remind the kids of the rules etc....even with their parents present who should be doing it. I can't imagine how bad it would get if they were not there.

I do wish though that they would open sooner, even if just on the weekends.

Edited by Tamara79, 2016-05-24 14:56:09
sammy
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8749

sammy
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8749

.
5/24/2016 at 3:06 PM

We visit spray parks often and all over town. I have noticed that the staff aren't badly needed and quite often, reading or on their phones. There really isn't a need for them IMO. It's no different, in my mind, than any other park/public place. These things cost a lot of money and it's a waste to only be open for 2 months. However, I'm also the type that will say something if I notice a dangerous/inappropriate situation and don't wait for the staff to step in. I think this is where society is really failing nowadays....but that's another topic!! Lol

Any other towns we've visited, there were no staff. The ones with wading pools could just have the sprayers turned on like abbysmom suggested until staff could be there. Or find staff that can work May/June to September
Abbysmum
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 5039

Abbysmum
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 5039

agree with sammy
5/24/2016 at 3:19 PM

I agree with sammy. It''s use at your own risk. As for not follow the rules, parents should be supervising and being grown-up enough to follow them. It''s no different than any other park.

edit to add: " I absolutely think staff is needed for that reason, we frequent all the spray parks and the staff is constantly having to remind the kids of the rules etc....even with their parents present who should be doing it. I can't imagine how bad it would get if they were not there. "

Sometimes it's because there's staff there that parents fail to supervise their own children.

Edited by Abbysmum, 2016-05-24 15:21:40
Tamara79
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2102

Tamara79
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2102

Yes
5/24/2016 at 4:05 PM

It is costly equipment which is why I think staff is needed. Parents should be watching their children at all times, but the fact is not all do. It only takes a few bad apples to ruin it for all. It's not just about use at your own risk, its about the risk to the equipment. There was a thread another year about why bathing suits are required (street clothes clogging the drains or something) and there were still people upset about it and wanting to do as they pleased. I'd hate to lose a spray park because the maintenance became too costly etc. I personally havent seen staff constantly on their phones or reading but it's possible, that's more of a staffing issue that I think could be addressed.
sammy
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8749

sammy
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8749

..
5/24/2016 at 5:04 PM

Just to clarify, I don't care that they're on their phone, reading or visiting...I'd do the same! It's just that they're not needed so there really isn't anything for them to do. There's also times that there isn't many at the park, so there's no one to supervise anyway.

I get what you mean by the expense but in reality, all types of parks are expensive. We should't have to have them staffed though.

I''d like to see them open in May/June and early September, unstaffed. Like I previously said, during the week it would only be used by supervised toddlers as school aged kids would be in school. The risk of "damage" would be minimal but we''d get maximum use out of these costly parks

Edited by sammy, 2016-05-24 17:08:48
bethechangeyouwanttosee
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Posts: 112

bethechangeyouwanttosee
Joined: This month
Posts: 112

What A Shame.
5/24/2016 at 5:19 PM

If other cities and towns have the spray parks open in May and June and September, why does the City of Brandon not???

Families who have preschool-aged children and infants could benefit greatly and school-aged kids would still use them after school and weekends!

I find it embarrassing that the City denies families this. It's at this point that I could also refer to the fact that this growing city doesn't have a decent, new, gradual-entry outdoor pool, say like, hmmmm, Souris??

What a shame.
Amaxinlin
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 683

Amaxinlin
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 683

I agree
5/24/2016 at 8:16 PM

I would love to see them open even on weekends for May and June. It would also be nice for toddlers and infants to enjoy the park once in a while without school-agers! (Not trying to offend anybody here). But we will continue to enjoy the parks in July!
traveller
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9145

traveller
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9145

:)
5/25/2016 at 8:38 AM

it would be nice if they opened longer hours and i really dont buy the clogging or supervision argument, many many larger towns and cities run theirs unmanned with none of the silly clothing rules, there are things they can do for the equipment, like put in a prefillter, ect if the spray parks are that hard to keep up maybe we shouldnt have bought them and invested in something else instead

regarding the rules issue, I honestly the think the reason people dont follow the rules in the first place is because they dont make sense, why can one town, or larger city like Vancouver run a spray park fine allowing a T shirt when the other one cant? why do all the other ones run unmanned like any other play ground? its hard to take a rule seriously when others allow it without issue.

I also wonder the same thing about parents who seem to not be supervising their kids, maybe they dont mind the behavior even if others have issues with it, or maybe they also think the rules dont make sense, I have to admit I did allow my toddler to go without socks on in the play structures after he fell in one and really hurt himself for lack of traction having socks on plastic stuff, I know there is a health risk having bare feet in those things but i was willing to take the risk and allow him to build his immunity by getting exposed to dirt and all the other crap that is in those things that are NEVER cleaned, imo the safest was shoes or bare feet and no one wanted him to have his shoes on in there so bare feet was the alternative, so while you may disagree that is the reason I ignored, and allowed him ti ignore the rules

I had a similar issue as a child when I went swimming and was shy and wanted a T shirt, the pools wouldnt allow girls wear one for the same reason Brandon says, the same pool now allows Muslim women to go in the pools fully dressed in pants and long shirts and head coverings, not made out of special swim suite material but the same as you can buy at walmart, the reality is those women are wearing the full covering for the same reason as us girls wanted to as kids, somehow it was impossible to allow when it is kids with no say but it is possible when it a group with some weight behind it? so my point is while I get rules are rules and they are there for a reason until we actually always make sense and are consistent people are going to break some of these arbitrary rules and i dont find it a huge deal so saying the spray parks need to be manned for them isnt something I believe in either
Doug
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 6888

Doug
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 6888

lose out.
5/25/2016 at 6:08 PM

My guess is many students who are hired to work July and August would no longer be hired.

It would have to be someone available for the 4 5 months.

Just like many jobs that use to for the young only not go to older workers or retired people.

Fast food and seasonal retail for two.

I also am willing to bet this wages paid would have to be hire possibly some short term benefits to boot

Now the added expenses may not be a biggie but definitely 2 to three timers higher with the extra 2-3 months thrown in.

Just a couple of flies in the ointment two the about.

As far as Shiloh or other small towns the probably have no problems manning one park with volunteers for a short time with paid staff later.

One idea for Brandon would to hire back laid off seasonal park workers until the students are available.

Although training costs/union issues and higher wages may put the kibosh on that idea.

Another is just man one or two parks until July. Unfair for some though.
Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Splash parks
5/27/2016 at 10:47 AM

This thread really caught my attention, especially when I read that cities and towns both bigger and smaller than us have found ways to have theirs open.

I know nothing about what goes into making these parks work, so in an effort to get that understanding as well as to learn what makes us different from these other cities and towns I sent in an inquiry to the city communications dept. My best understanding is that it's a staffing issue (and ultimately money since even though the YMCA does the hiring the city does the paying). Without staff it becomes a safety issue since I'm told the city doesnt "have push buttons built into our systems to allow for unsupervised use, and as such, require an attendant present during any operation to ensure proper supervision and use. "

Personally I think that:
- with everything that happened in 2012 re the tax revolt
- and then our new Mayor getting a strong mandate based on a campaign that largely centred around getting taxes under control
That the city is very hesitant to get into anything that involves a new expense, which I can understand and respect.

For fun though, here's a scenario as far as costing and staff. I'm sure it's a little simplistic but should at least be a basis to evolve an understanding from as far as staffing costs and the rough ballpark that they're in. There could be other costs outside of staff, but since those costs were the main issue mentioned to me I can only assume that they're the most meaningful one.

Let's say that the city from the middle of May to the end of June decides to open 2 parks... one East of 18th Street and one in the West of 18th for four hours on Saturday afternoon and four hours on Sunday afternoon. If you run some numbers I dont think its excessively unrealistic to say that staff cost could potentially be between $2000-3000, so i’ll say $3000. It's been said recently that every $400,000 in increased costs collected by property tax is the rough equivalent of a 1% property tax increase. That would mean that this hypothetical $3000 could have a tax impact of less than 0.01% or less than 15 cents on the municipal portion of the tax bill on an average home I looked up that had a total tax bill (municipal and school) of approx $3000.

Still it's dangerous to say yes to every small expense or they eventually add up to one big expense, so it comes down to what is and isn't a priority. This scenario also assumes it would be easy to find people to work on this kind of short, sporadic schedule which I’m not sure about... but if this is important it may be worth an exploration with a person’s councillor to see if there are ways to make it work.