West Park by the Sea! Long Eaton splashpad launch!

Erewash Borough Council will launch its new summertime water playpark 'Splashpad' with a fun-filled West Park-by-the-sea event this month.

Families with young children are invited to the opening event which will include an official ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Deputy Mayor of Erewash, Councillor Val Clare, on Thursday 21 June between 12noon and 3pm.

The free entertainment will celebrate the launch of Splashpad in Long Eaton's flagship park – a fabulous new water playpark that includes water cannons, ground geysers and water loops. The event will see other entertainment laid on, including Punch and Judy, balloon-modelling and the Council's Climbing Wall.

Splashpad is a more contemporary version of a paddling pool, but instead of standing water it uses ground jets and overhead water sprays to create an exciting play experience for children of all ages. The jets are specially designed to use a minimum amount of water, which then drains into a tank and will be recycled by the Council's parks team to water flower displays throughout the summer.

Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council's Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, says:

"We know that young people and local families have been looking forward to 'Splashpad' and we are delighted to hold this opening event to launch an exciting water play area that will provide hours of wonderful entertainment.

"Children and park users told us they would love to see a facility like this, so we have listened and worked on their ideas. It is a play facility that complements and adds to the already wonderful facilities we have in West Park. Join us at the opening – and we look forward to seeing children having a 'splashingly' good time throughout the summer!"

The Council worked with pupils from local schools including Dovedale Primary, Harrington Junior, Parklands Infant and Nursery, Brackenfield and Long Eaton schools to develop the facility - which has been sited next to West Perk Café within the park where there are changing room and toilet facilities. Children from the schools have all been invited to the opening event along with members of the West Park Friends Group.

The £140,000 project has been funded by Erewash Borough Council and through grants from the national Playbuilder fund and Derbyshire County Council's Aiming High fund, which provides money for extra features which help make the facility more accessible for children and people with disabilities.

Councillor Barry Lewis, Derbyshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Young People, says: 

"These grants provide a unique opportunity for us to work in partnership with borough and district councils to enhance the quality of leisure, sports and play experiences for children and young people with disabilities and to act on what they have told us."