Sarah Atkins
mnjreporter@gmail.com
A giant bucket hangs high over the Riverside Park Splash Pad, slowly filling up and then dumping water on the heads of all below without warning.
Samuel Clark, age 6, and James Clark, 8, say that part is their favorite.
The Riverside Park Splash Pad has provided kids with a fun way to cool off in the summer heat for nearly two years. The splash pad opened in late May of 2022, inviting children and families who come to Riverside to play in the water and enjoy being outside. It includes the water bucket, rock and flower fountains, and a variety of other geysers.
Around the splash pad are seating options for adults who are supervising children, several of which are shaded. Community groups and families alike use the splash pad as a way to come together and give children an interactive play experience.
Randy Clark has been bringing sons Samuel and James to the splash pad since it opened in 2023. They often come with a church group that meets at the park every Wednesday in the summer. Clark said that his family comes to Riverside Park.
Sabrina Ehlenberder, who works with the Blue Ridge Partnership for Children, said they have opted to use the splash pad as the location for their Play and Learn program each month. They bring children, ages zero to 5, every first and third Wednesday in the summer to keep cool in the heat in a fun and educational way.
The Blue Ridge Partnership for Children used to do their Play and Learn program in another area of the park, but the installation of the splash pad has given them new and improved opportunities to educate and inspire.
The splash pad provides an accessible way for children who don’t swim to play in the water. The feature is also free to use, making it more available to those who wish to save money they might spend by going to the Brad Reagan Pool.
Becky Sutton took her grandson to the splash pad and said “the park has been needing something like this for a while and it’s just so great to have.”
The Splash Pad is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., weather permitting.
Many families and community groups will continue to be able to enjoy the splash pad until Monday, September 2 when it shuts off for the season.