Hollister water parks reopen as temperatures heat up

HOLLISTER, Calif. (KION) Water parks are beginning to reopen just in time for warmer temperatures.

On Tuesday, water features reopened at McCarthy Park and Whale Park, and now families are out enjoying a break from the heat.

On Wednesday morning, a heat advisory went into effect for much of the Central Coast.

Parents and children visiting the water parks in Hollister were overwhelmed with joy as they played in the water features. Most children said the best part of being at the park again i being able to spend time with the other neighborhood children.

“It was kind of difficult, we had to swim in our new pool and we just missed going to water parks very much," said one little girl.

With all parks being closed off to the public during the pandemic, forcing many to stay indoors last summer, parents say this summer, even something as simple as going to the park gives them a glimmer of hope.

“We would go here and there cautiously but to have them and see the smiles on their faces and even for me too, to have that fresh air, I think we need a little bit more for the children to do," says Hollister resident, Stephanie Santos.

City leaders say they couldn't wait to get families back outside again once they got news restrictions would be lifted on June 15th.

“As soon as we heard it was lifted, we turned the switch on and let the kids come play," says Hollister Mayor, Ignacio Velasquez.

Some parents say this was the first time they were able to take their kids out together and with the heat not going down any time soon, they say they hope the city will do a little more to keep residents cool when they visit the parks.

“I think we need more water parks and also more parks with a little bit more shade because in this area, it’s a little warm," says Santos.

The city says the water features at both parks are on from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.