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WINNIPEG — It’s a year late, but the new Transcona Aquatic Park is opening Friday with free admission.

Global News got an exclusive tour of the brand new facility at the corner of Kildare Avenue East and Wabasha Street.

“This is a first of its kind in Winnipeg,” said Councillor Russ Wyatt. “You’d have to go to Portage la Prairie to see anything close to this.” Tweet This

The park, also known as TAP, features four water slides, two diving boards, a beach-like sloped access, shaded areas, change rooms and washrooms.

This was phase two of the almost $7-million project.

Phase one began in June 2013 with a $800,000 splash pad. The splash park was open for a year before it was shut down for two summers while phase two was built.

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The project was supposed to have a lazy river but that cost ran too high.

The largest water park in Winnipeg opened Friday after much anticipation. Lorraine Nickel / Global News Story continues below advertisement

It was also delayed by a year due to a debate at city hall over the cost of building outdoor washrooms and change rooms rather than renovating existing facilities inside the nearby Transcona Centennial Pool. In the end, new facilities were built.

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The grand opening is Friday and swimming will begin free of charge right after the ribbon cutting at 10:30 a.m to 8 p.m. The park has free admission on Saturday July 1st and Sunday July 2nd as well with hours from 1 p.m to 8 p.m.

1 p.m to 8 p.m are the hours the park will operate this summer giving staff time to work out problems that arise in the morning. Next year the hours will be extended.

Admission costs and more information can be found here.