Riverside Park's new spray park, inclusive playground opens on May long weekend

Kamloops’ latest playground is set to open next month, just in time for summer.

The highly anticipated accessible spray park and inclusive playground in Riverside Park is slated to open on May long weekend.

Residents are invited to the opening event on Saturday, May 20. There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony, activities for the kids and a variety of food trucks.

As part of the Riverside Park Improvements Project that began in 2021, the new playground is the first of its kind in Kamloops.

The new spray park and playground features a wide variety of inclusive structures for kids of all abilities, as well as an accessible surface.

“The modernized water spray park features and inclusive playground equipment will provide a sense of wonderment and play for all abilities to enjoy,” said Jeff Putnam, the city’s parks and civic facilities manager.

“The new washroom building will be open year-round to improve community access in our most-visited park.”

In a release, the city acknowledged a $200,000 contribution from Trans Canada.

Other improvements in Riverside Park will include:

• A new year-round change room and washroom building;

• Flood mitigation work, including raising the Rivers Trail between Uji Gardens and the Sandman Centre;

• Paved and widened portions of the Rivers Trail;

• New lighting, picnic tables, benches, and garbage receptacles along the Rivers Trail;

• An expanded community plaza; and

• An accessible beach mat for persons requiring mobility assistance.