Riverside splash pads to reopen soon for families
Two new riverside characters need your help to find them names!
The splash pads at the Riverside outdoor pool area in Wallingford will reopen on the 19 July in time for fun for all the family during the school holidays.
The outdoor pool and campsite at Riverside reopened at the end of May, the start of the normal season for the site following Covid-19 safety guidelines.
South Oxfordshire District Council and their leisure contractors GLL felt that it would be difficult to manage social distancing and restrict numbers around the splash pads so delayed their reopening until restrictions had been lifted to ensure the safety of the public and the staff on site.
The outdoor pool has been really popular since it opened with over five thousand visitors so far, and that is following Covid-19 guidelines which has meant limiting the numbers that can attend the swimming sessions.
During the extended closure South Oxfordshire District Council and GLL worked on refurbishing the splash pad area so that it was ready to open as soon as it was safe to do so, and to make it more fun for the children to enjoy. They have now introduced a couple of new characters, a river monster and crocodile.
These creatures have made Wallingford their new home and the council have launched a vote on their social media platforms asking residents to name them by voting for their favourite from the following list:
- Olivia
- Amelia
- Isla
- Ava
- Mia
- Isabella
- Sophia
- Grace
- Lily
- Freya
- Oliver
- George
- Noah
- Arthur
- Harry
- Leo
- Muhammad
- Jack
- Charlie
- Oscar
Voting is now open and will close on Sunday 18 July. The winning names will be announced on Monday 19 July.
Cllr Maggie Filipova-Rivers, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing said: “The Riverside pool has been really popular so far this season. The reopening of the splash pads is going to be so much fun for families. Plus, while they have been out of use, we have been able to add a couple of new characters. A river monster and crocodile have “swum up the Thames” and settled themselves next to the splash pads. I can’t wait to see what names are chosen for them.”
Residents are asked to continue to be considerate to others and be mindful of safety guidelines set by GLL and the council when using the facilities. There will be increased cleaning of the splash pads and hand sanitiser stations will be made available to ensure that they are safe for everyone to use.
The splash pads will be available to use from 9-6pm every day until early September.
Details of the opening times and further information about the outdoor facilities at Riverside including the campsite can be found on the Better UK app and website.
