Have a splashing good time across the Vale this summer

Preparations are ramping up as the splash pads in the Vale are being prepared to be switched on for the summer.

The splash pads in Memorial Park in Wantage and Abbey Meadow in Abingdon are both managed by Vale of White Horse District Council.

This year will be the first full summer season that the pad in Abingdon has been used since the council made improvements to reduce the number of geese in the area.

The new fence along the river front was installed last year to help to keep young children safely in the park and potentially reduce the problem of geese causing havoc for park users and creating additional work for the council when keeping the area clean for families to use.

This year the kiosk at Abbey Meadow will have a seating area for customers to enjoy their refreshments and make the most of the lovely surroundings.

The kiosk and splash pad are maintained and run by GLL, the council’s leisure provider.

The splash pad in Wantage is managed by the Vale of White Horse District Council’s parks team. Both of the district’s splash pads will be turned on Saturday 27 May and will be available to use every day until the start of September.

Cllr Debra Dewhurst Cabinet Member for Leisure Centres and Community Buildings at Vale of White Horse District Council said: “The splash pads in the Vale are a really popular feature for families over the summer. And at a time when many are experiencing cost-of-living pressures having access to something like this that will entertain children for free is invaluable.

“The addition of the outdoor seating area at Abbey Meadow this year is just another reason why people will come to Abingdon and I am looking forward to enjoying an ice cream there with my children.”

Cllr Mark Coleman Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Waste at Vale of White Horse District Council said: “We know that the fencing at Abbey Meadow won’t stop all the geese from flocking around the area, but the hope is it will be a deterrent and it will help to keep children using the pads safe from running towards the river.

“We have some great parks in the district with fantastic facilities for families and it’s lovely to see them so busy over the school holiday period.”

The other popular outdoor facility that is owned by Vale of White Horse District Council is the outdoor pool in Abingdon. Abbey Meadow pool will be ready for visitors ahead of the school summer holidays on Monday 24 July and will be open for the summer season for 6 weeks. The council and GLL will begin preparing the pool for use from late June.