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Photo via Facebook.com/Slidethecity. A Springfield official and a Utah company spokeswoman said Thursday that plans for a giant water slide in the Springfield downtown-North End area were deemed unfeasible weeks ago, and the event has been scrapped.

(Picasa)

SPRINGFIELD - A city official and a Utah company spokeswoman said Thursday that plans for a "Slide the City" giant water slide in the Springfield downtown-North End area were deemed unfeasible weeks ago, and the event has been scrapped.

James Leydon, a spokesman for Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, said that major construction taking place this summer and beyond, including an $800 million MGM Springfield casino project, and replacement of the Interstate 91 viaduct deck, has ruled out any ability to bring the giant roadway slide here for the next three years.

Slide the City, the public water slide company based in Utah, is trekking around the country and was still publicizing plans on its website this week that it planned to make stops in Springfield, Worcester and Boston. The dates for the Springfield and Boston stops were listed as "TBA" – to be announced – and Worcester was listed as Aug. 1.

The website notes the company travels with a 1,000-foot-long "slip and slide" for public use.

"Embrace your inner child and get ready for the slide of your life!" the website states. "Slide the City is bringing the biggest water party of the summer to your city."

The city notified the company in late February it was not feasible to host the slide in Springfield.

Lauren Brady, listed as event director for the company, when contacted for comment on Thursday, said by email that "due to major construction, Springfield is not an option for the next few years."

"That being said, we are working with a near by city so we can still bring the slide to the area," Brady said in the email. "Once we receive the permit from that town, we will (be) formally announcing the event."

She was not immediately reached for additional comment regarding any specific alternate location being considered.

A map of the proposed Springfield location on the company's website appeared to show the water slide location on Main Street along the front of The Republican property from Liberty Street to a location north of Congress Street.

Leydon said that beyond the construction, there was also a question of having a location in Springfield that would be wide enough and long enough, and with an adequate slope for the slide.

Beyond the downtown area, there would be concerns about the impact that such a slide would have on a more heavily residential area, Leydon said.

But the discussion never progressed because the amount of construction made any other issues moot, Leydon said.

"It's unfortunate that we couldn't move forward in the planning process, but on the flip side it is a positive sign that Springfield can't afford to shut down many more streets because of all the economic development going on," Leydon said.