The Memorial Day weekend marks the traditional opening of the Bakersfield spray parks. Recreation and Parks supervisors say all nine parks around town start spraying Saturday and will be open from 1:00 to 5:00 each day through the summer, and the parks are just plain fun. A couple of years ago, the drought caused them to be shut down for the season and several had to have major repairs when they were started up again in 2016. Water from the spray parks is activated by pushing a button so there’s minimal waste, and it drains into the aquifer to save water. Best of all, use of the spray parks is free.

Sean Michael Lisle