Dozens of splash pads, Celebration Square fountain open in Mississauga

Some 30 splash pads and a popular cooling-off spot in the city’s downtown core opened for the warm-and-hot season on Friday across Mississauga.

And the City of Mississauga’s timing appears to be spot on. Temperatures in Canada’s seventh-largest city are expected to climb into the low 20s C Saturday and Sunday followed by a Victoria Day Monday with sunny skies and a high in the mid-to-high 20s.

In a notice to the public on Friday, city officials said they’d opened the vast majority of Mississauga’s more than 30 splash/spray pads. Several have yet to open in the city’s northwest end as they’re in need of repair.

Families can enjoy the splash areas well into September, weather permitting, the city says, adding the pads open daily at 9 a.m. The areas are unsupervised.

“Spray pads are free to use and easy to visit. They are a safe and fun way to cool down on hot days,” the city said.

For splash pad locations in Mississauga, use the city’s online map.

The popular Celebration Square fountain and wading pool in the downtown core, next to city hall, also opened for the season on Friday, the city said. It’s free to use and open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. until Labour Day and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. after Labour Day.

“The water is shallow and designed for young children, but the wading pool is not supervised,” officials said in Friday’s public notice. “Parents and guardians must stay close and actively watch their children. There is plenty of seating nearby to help you keep an eye on the fun.”

The splash pads and Celebration Square amenities have become popular spring and summer cooling-off spots over the years for many Mississauga residents looking to escape the heat on hot days.

“Spray pads offer a unique mix of fun, safety and convenience that makes them a great summer activity, a refreshing escape from the heat and a fun way to cool off,” city officials said in an earlier news release. “They are free to use, making them an affordable and fun option for families. Unlike pools, spray pads have no standing water, making them a safe option for children of all ages, including those who don’t know how to swim.”

The city has also said amenities likes spray pads in parks offer important benefits to neighbourhoods and residents, noting such locations:

• Serve as gathering spots where people can socialize.
• Encourage physical activity.
• Offer an accessible space for all.
• Play a vital role in fostering a healthy urban environment.

As for Mississauga’s outdoor swimming pools, residents will have to wait another four weeks. Those facilities open on June 13.

Go online for more information, including locations of the swimming pools.

The city’s indoor swimming pools are currently operating on the spring schedule. Summer season begins on June 29 and ends Sept. 6.

(Cover photo of Celebration Square fountain: City of Mississauga)