opsseasonweather
How are splash pads winterized?
Quick answer
Winterization typically happens in late September or October. Crews drain the holding tank, blow compressed air through every supply line until water stops, cap the jets, drain the pump house, add antifreeze to traps, and post the closed signage. The whole process takes a half-day to a full day.
Winterizing a splash pad is essentially the same process as winterizing a sprinkler system, scaled up. After the last operating day, crews shut down the supply, drain the recirculation tank, and use a high-volume air compressor to blow each supply line clear — running individual features one at a time until only mist comes out. Jet caps go on to keep wasps and debris out. The pump house gets fully drained, pumps are sometimes pulled and stored indoors, and traps and floor drains take a dose of RV antifreeze. Controllers are powered down and weatherproofed. Northern cities also wrap exposed pipes with heat trace as a backup. Skipping any step can mean cracked pipes, split pump housings, and a $20,000+ spring repair bill, so the checklist gets followed religiously.