Wrexham Makes a Splash With Wales’ First Street Waterslide (Picture Special!)
After months of planning and hype yesterday a street in Wrexham Town Centre was temporarily turned into a giant, blue waterslide.
For one day only Yorke Street in Wrexham Town Centre was transformed into a giant waterslide – attracting hundreds of enthusiastic participants to the event.
The 260ft Waterslide, which was held in aid of Nightingale House Hospice was the first of its kind to take place in Wales – with over 500 people taking part in the event. It is hoped that the event will have raised over £5,000 for the hospice.
First to take on the slide was local campaigner Andrew Atkinson – who was shortly followed by a team of people in onesies, dinosaur fancy dress and even Mario and Luigi took part!
The event itself saw two slides which spanned from outside the Wynnstay on Yorke Street and down to just outside Wrexham.com’s HQ – The Foundry. Members of the crowd were given inflatable balls to throw on the slide when participants came sliding down – which some took as a chance to throw things at their loved ones faces.
Participants were given lilos, rubber rings and the like at the start of the event – before pushing themselves down the slide and being soaked with water! While the slide seemed to be enjoyed by many, there have been a few comments online since saying a slightly slipperier surface may have prevented people from getting stuck in the middle!
Along with the waterslide the High Street also played host to a number of activities including fairground rides, a bouncy castle, trampolines, hook-a-duck and much more! Local business Moneypenny were also on hand to inform people about their upcoming recruitment process.
A few local businesses took advantage of the waterslide and increase in footfall and opened on the Sunday – with Chatwins having a fair few people inside when we walked past.
Speaking about the success of the Waterslide, Nightingale House have since posted online: “Well who knew you could attract 500 people (plus their 2500 spectators) to Wrexham town centre on a Sunday to throw them down a 260ft urban man made waterslide. I think it is safe to say that Yorke Street has never seen anything like it before!
“Thank you so much to everyone for taking part – you all seemed to have fun and the fancy dress outfits were fantastic!! We really want to thank Ben Shepherd from Capital FM who compered the event and his street stars who were taking pictures and entertaining everyone (check out their twitter!).
@wrexham water slide for @NightingaleHH pic.twitter.com/GKXEBLeDA4
— Prime Lens Tony (@PrimeLensPhotos) July 12, 2015
“To Dee Valley Water for playing the crucial role of supplying the hoses and water and to all our sponsors who made it possible including Amberon Traffic Management, Eagles Meadow, Moneypenny, Avox and 9 Bar.” Pictured below are some of the Waterslide pics sent to us throughout the day!
@wrexham Alfie Lloyd pic.twitter.com/zbJNKJs1OJ
— rachel christie (@rachelchristie3) July 12, 2015
@wrexham @connieOnaScreen pic.twitter.com/xgQkQfHbjs
— rachel christie (@rachelchristie3) July 12, 2015
@wrexham and the aftermath pic.twitter.com/2s7kSHMBwr
— rachel christie (@rachelchristie3) July 12, 2015
@wrexham heres my 5 year old nephew enjoying the slide.great fun! pic.twitter.com/2K1k0UHdz6
— Alaina Davies (@ad_alaina) July 12, 2015
@wrexham pic.twitter.com/QkryZmjiLo
— Susanne Davies (@susiestar25) July 12, 2015
Really good seeing everyone in @Wrexham today supporting @NightingaleHH‘s Water slide. Not a bad way to spend Sunday! pic.twitter.com/lt6dJG1QCN
— Ben Sheppard (@BenOnCapital) July 12, 2015
@wrexham Amazing atmosphere at the waterslide today! #wrexhamslide pic.twitter.com/9oxNEoPG84
— Morgan Price (@PriceMorgan2002) July 12, 2015
@wrexham @WrexhamHour @NightingaleHH The #WrexhamWaterSlide photos are up! Full 240 here: http://t.co/5DEJQxWaR9 pic.twitter.com/1LAAbck5Aw
— Prime Lens Tony (@PrimeLensPhotos) July 12, 2015
@NightingaleHH waterslide @wrexham pic.twitter.com/vC0VjHeYYL
— Clwyd Branch MNDA (@Clwydmnda) July 12, 2015
Yorke Street looking special for the @NightingaleHH @wrexham Water Slide! pic.twitter.com/FSV2LU5cHI
— Ian Lucas (@IanCLucas) July 12, 2015
@Wrexham_TV have arrived at the Nightingale House water slide in @wrexhampic.twitter.com/WawGABTSzi
— Bradley James Allen (@Bradley_J_Allen) July 12, 2015
Did you take part in the Wrexham Waterslide? If so tweet @wrexham your pictures and thoughts or email them to [email protected]!
*Thanks to Tony at Prime Lens Photography for the image featured above.
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