With lots of water play equipment, it’s going to be a cooler summer at Heritage Park this year.

The water play features were turned on today for The Lismore App to get a sneak preview of what’s to come over the warmer months - and we took a jump on the new in-ground trampolines and walked the new adventure play equipment.

In-ground trampolines in front of the tower.

Water play

With a coconut palm, the rings, an umbrella, bottom squirts, the flower and the water cannon, the park’s new water play equipment features 12 water burst cycles. Big and little kids will have a lot of fun getting wet.

Lismore City Council’s open space coordinator Martin Souter said this water play equipment was chosen because it is more water sensitive and the water pressure can change depending on the wind and weather, so no water is wasted.

Water play features include the coconut palm, the rings, an umbrella, bottom squirts, the flower and the water cannon.

“We can use recycled water or mains water,” Martin said. “Water recycling is more problematic though and we’d need big tanks and add chemicals. So, we are opening with safe, drinkable water that will go into storm water system and flush through the creeks.”

Martin said the water will be switched on about 9am each day, until 6 or 7pm in the evening.

The building of the new play equipment beganduring March in the Covid shutdown period, and it’s been a long time getting materials and contractors into place.

Today, Council staff were laying turf around the new areas. New features include two in-ground trampolines and a tower and chute made of recycled materials.

There’s also new sandstone seating and another new area where kids can play with natural materials, step on a rope bridge, wooden stepping blocks and explore plants and rocks.

Martin said stage 2 of the park redevelopment will include adding shade sails, paths and making the area accessible to people with disabilities.

“We’ll be looking for ideas from locals about what they would like to see,” Martin said, “We will be almost shovel ready and will look for grants from the State and Federal Government to fund it.”

Tomorrow, the railway driver will be arriving to troubleshoot the new equipment and test out the new carriages on the train to see if everything is performing.

While the gates open today, it won't be officially opened until next week. Once the final pieces of turf are laid and the new train is fully operational, we can all go and explore the new park.

The Lismore App will keep you posted.