Sandy Slip ‘N Slide Reminds Us to Have Fun

By Megan Mahajan

Randy Pausch, who delivered the memorable, “Last Lecture” speech, said, “Never, ever underestimate the importance of having fun.” As we grow older we are forced to prioritize our lives according to the things we “have” to do, and fun generally gets bumped to the bottom of the list or forgotten altogether.

On the Fourth of July, a group in Sandy created a way to bring some fun back into adulthood, and it didn’t involve parades or fireworks. The traditional Fourth of July scene involving barbecues and lawn chairs was completely foregone in favor of something much more fun: a giant slip ‘n slide.

The slide, made from retired advertisement banners, water and soap, ran through Flat Iron Mesa Park for only a couple of hours that afternoon, but hundreds showed up to take advantage.

Adult worries and priorities forgotten, daring people of all ages, dressed in everything from jeans to Speedos, could be found sliding head first down the slip ‘n slide.

“I don’t usually do things like that,” said Michelle Jensen, who spent the day sliding with a group of friends. “I felt like a kid but I loved it!” 

The event was sponsored by M. Alder and was promoted heavily through social media and other online sources. The creative announcements across the internet all began the same:

“Four score and seven years ago, our forefathers brought upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men were created to PARTY.”

And party they did. 

Along with the slip ‘n slide, a contest was held for the “most American” swimwear, with cash prizes given to the winners. 

For three full hours, age didn’t matter and responsibility was drowned out by the sounds of uncontrollable laughter and splashing water.

People of all ages let out screams and squeals as they slid down the slide, only to run right back up and do it again. Each time they would experiment with different ways of sliding, including jumping on the backs of their friends and riding them down until they inevitably slid off and ended up crashing at the bottom.

“We just played,” said Alexis S. “You really can’t explain it any more than that, like you can’t put fun into words.”

“Everyone should do things like this at least once. Well, I was going to say once in their lives but really it should be more like once a month. Nobody was rude, we all just played and ran into each other and slid with complete strangers and didn’t care. The world needs more of that.”

Jason Dicks went to the slip ‘n slide at the request of his children but ended up joining the fun himself. “I definitely was not dressed for it, but I couldn’t keep telling the kids no. You know, it was pretty fun. I just hope nobody else saw me.”

Something as simple as a bunch of retired banners and some water brought people of all ages and communities together for one afternoon. 

Hundreds of people united in the name of fun.