“Wally the Whale” is making yet another splash this summer at Valley View Park.

Built a decade ago, the Valley View Park, better known as the Whale Park, recently underwent a $150,000 facelift. Earlier this year, Hollister City Council members approved a plan to improve other city parks, allocating $140,000 in park funds for new playground equipment at the Jerry Gabe Memorial Park near the Hollister Airport, Vista Park Hill and Las Brisas Park. Improvements included more seating, a playground for children ages 2 to 5, and even more shade.

“Wally the Whale,” the water feature at the park, also underwent some renovations. Using recirculated water from the Sunnyslope County Water District, Wally offers children a cool escape during the summer. Open from Memorial Day until Labor Day, the water feature on Wally is available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day.

For many Hollister locals, Wally is the perfect spot to take their children during the summer. One Hollister native, scouting out a table near Wally for her grandson’s birthday party on Saturday, said, “It’s Hollister’s very own water park. People come to this park for Wally.”

Another Hollister resident, Rona Williams, agrees that Wally is a perfect feature for the summer. “It’s too hot to go on the playground,” she says, and because of this reason, adds that, “There should absolutely be more water features at local parks.”