Pershore’s new water play park in Abbey Park has opened

Work has finally been completed on Pershore’s new water play park in Abbey Park, which is themed around the history of the famous local horse racing derby Land O’Plums Steeplechase.

Wychavon has invested more than £327,000 in creating the new splash pad as part of an ongoing improvement programme to the district’s water play areas.

The water park, which opened at 10am on Friday (May 10), has its own racecourse section for youngsters to compete against their friends which involves various water sprays for them to leap over and even a winner’s podium.

Cllr Emma Stokes, executive board member for resident and customer service on Wychavon District Council, said: “This is an amazing addition to Pershore’s Abbey Park, and I am pleased with its overall look and feel.

"It was wonderful to see and hear children splashing around in the water park and enjoying the sunshine.

"This is just another example of how Wychavon continues to invest in our award-winning parks and open spaces.”

The previous water park in Pershore's Abbey Park was installed over 15 years ago and had reached the end of its natural life as well as being increasingly expensive to maintain.

Other parts of the new splash pad include a reed shower, raining daffodils and The Tree Tipper, which has been inspired by the local Pershore Plum tree.

 There’s also a water-spraying Freddy Frog and a ponded zone with weir gate dams to create flooded areas to splash around in.

Jon Hulbert, senior parks and greenspace officer, at Wychavon, said: “We’re continually looking at keeping our parks up to date with the current needs of our residents. Thanks to Splash for helping us to design this wonderful park with a nod to Pershore’s heritage and for completing the work on time.”

Pershore's water park is one of three in Wychavon.

There are also water parks in Evesham's Abbey Park, which also opened on Saturday, and one in the Droitwich Spa Lido, which will open on May 25.