For one day only, residents of Bristol were offered just 360 ‘tickets to slide’ (out of nearly 100,000 applicants) down a main city street at over 10 miles an hour, surrounded by thousands of jealous onlookers.
Inspired by the previous year’s heat wave and created by Luke Jerram, this participatory crowdfunded project was an inclusive, all-ages community endeavor, with sliders ranging from 5 to 73 years old.
The slide was installed on Park Street in Bristol as part of Make Sunday Special and the Bristol Art Weekender, drawing a mix of participants from within and beyond the city.
Plastic sheets over padded mats were shaped and held in place by hay bales – this simple canyon was then supplied with continuous water to ensure a smooth ride from top to bottom.
While he has no plan to tour his own creation, Luke is going to make the plans freely available for other people who want to follow suit, making public water slides in their own towns or cities around the world.
