Strange Planet: Giant Water Slide in Grand Rapids

A 500-ft.-long inflatable water slide stretched the length of three city blocks in Grand Rapids, Michigan this past weekend, and thousands of eager young city dwellers lined up for free rides. NPR interviewed 21-year-old Rob Bliss, who masterminded the event. Bliss began organizing free fun in Grand Rapids in 2008, when his giant pillow fight in the streets drew 1,000 people. After that, his call for zombies attracted 4,000. He uses Facebook to publicize his events, which he envisions as “reimagining what a downtown space can be used for.”

Photo by tbird31/Twitter, via Sydney Morning Herald
More photos of the event by Joel Hawksley of Grand Rapids Press