Margund Van Huysted remembers when St. Albert city council started talking about building a water park for residents.
“We saw this development from the beginning and the crowning moment now 25 years later, it's beautiful,” she said.
The Woodlands Water Play Park quietly celebrated its 25(+1)-year anniversary on Aug. 21. The city’s Roaming Rec Crew was on-site handing out prizes and setting up games for the handful of children who attended the free event.
There were only a few families in the park on Saturday, and the 20-degree day felt cool compared to the heat experienced throughout the summer.
Van Huysted, who was at the park with her twin grandchildren, said she watched both her children and now her grandchildren play at the park.
“It's just lovely. It's a lovely setting among the trees. It's a perfect central spot for the grandchildren and children to come in,” she said.
Hannah Charrios is six years old and she said she can’t decide which part of the park is her favourite part. However, she does have a favourite thing to do.
“It’s so fun and it’s so satisfying. It’s the thing that goes,” she said as she makes a motion with her hands. “And if you go and put your hands in it, it goes,” as she motions her hands again. “And it like feels so weird and it is so satisfying,” she exclaimed.
Mikael Charrois said the park is close for them to bike and it is a nice place for Hannah and her sister Sophie to cool down for free.
The family wasn’t able to get into the park as often as they would have liked this summer because of the long lines, but they are enjoying their time now.
Deanna Sievers was at the anniversary celebration with her two kids and her niece by chance. They were at the nearby ball diamonds watching her nephew play baseball at provincials. The spray park gave the other children something else to do and the games and prizes from the Rec Crew were a nice bonus.
“[The spray park] is fantastic. It’s awesome. It's really clean. The facilities are nice,” she said.
Janneke Neymeyer is 11 years old and her favourite feature of the spray park is the giant Re/Max bucket.
Her other favourite part is the ice cream.
“I like mint, some people don't like it, but I really like it,” she said.
