Generation of people will have fond memories of visiting Scunthorpe’s Central Park on a hot summers day and playing in the paddling pools between the 1960s and the late 1990s, it proved a way popular of cooling off during the long hot summer holidays.
The pools didn’t escape vandalism though with mindless individuals breaking bottles in them from time to time and the results to unaware paddlers can only be imagined.
The large pool remained empty for many years but each year the smaller pool was filled and maintained, much to the delight of visitors.
The former paddling pools at Central Park
Redevelopment of Central Park during 2009-2011 has seen new landscaping, paths and trees added. The paddling pools have been removed and a new childrens play area added along with a new cafe and toilets.
The 1960s fountain, with help from Tata Steel, has been given a £60,000+ makeover which has seen the fountains basin smoothed over (it previously had peddled set into the bottom to deter people from venturing barefoot into it) and new filter systems added.
Now the summer months are here North Lincolnshire Council have issued a warning to people not to play in the fountain.
Cllr Nigel Sherwood, cabinet member for Highways and Neighbourhoods at North Lincolnshire Council, said:
“We want people to enjoy Central Park. The fountain it is not meant for swimming or playing in – it is simply a feature for all to enjoy. We can appreciate that during the warm weather people are attracted to water, but the fountain was never intended for this purpose and there is a serious health message here. We are concerned about the possible health and safety implications from people attempting to climb the fountain and from contamination of water from animals, foreign objects, litter and broken glass. They are putting themselves and others at risk.
“Please enjoy Central Park by all means, but be sensible and don’t play or allow your dogs in the water as it may pose a health risk to you and your family.”
Children enjoying paddling in the fountain
This has lead to many people calling the council ‘Killjoys’ and begs the question what has changed from allowing people to paddled in the former open air pools at Central Park to not allowing them to paddled in the fountain pool.
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