Temecula special events update: splash pad busy but small slide ruled a 'water attraction' by DOSH

Millie Avila, senior recreation leader for Temecula Special Events, gave a spring events update and described heavy usage at the city’s recently opened splash pad.

Avila said the department relocated an art walk inside the Civic Center during rain, hosted a splash pad grand opening March 19, and ran a teen egg hunt with nearly 300 participants. Upcoming events include city egg hunts for ages 0–12 at three parks on April 19 and a community expo on April 26.

Avila told commissioners the splash pad has been “absolutely bananas” and otherwise well received, but a regulatory complication has required an operational change. She said inspectors from the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) treat the splash pad’s small, roughly 3-foot-tall slide as a water attraction that would normally require staffing. To avoid continuous staffing obligations, the city is operating that slide without water while seeking an appeal or clarification with the manufacturer, contractor and DOSH.

Commissioners said the DOSH finding appeared unexpected and asked whether the issue should have been raised during planning; staff said they had pushed back with the manufacturer and contractor and are exploring appeals while protecting the city’s otherwise clean inspection record. Staff said the rest of the splash pad remains open and popular.

Commissioners also praised the special events team for outreach and two staff members’ statewide recognition for marketing and community programs.