Park, Playground, & Outdoor Space Blog | MRC Recreation

Why Spray Parks Are The Place To Be This Summer

Written by 0dm1n | July 18, 2019

Summer is here, and that means that families are searching for the best places to take their kids to enjoy a little fun. While an epic summer vacation is always great, some of the best family adventures can take place right there in your community. Spray parks are quickly becoming one of the most popular destinations for families, child care programs and other neighborhood group outings. While it’s not hard to see why spray parks are so popular, it is exciting to see people enjoy the benefits of having one nearby.

Get Relief From the Heat

Kids are always asking to go to the playground. Yet, it is common for adults to be concerned about kids spending too much time running around in the sun. Splash pads give kids an easy way to cool off since all they have to do is run through a fountain to feel the heat just fade away. Splash pads are a great addition to the playground areas where kids can go back and forth between the features. You could include one as a standalone facility for people to visit when they want to play in the water without having to swim.

Enjoy Water Play in a Safe Environment

Visitors should always follow a few basic safety tips for visiting splash pads such as using sunscreen. However, it is also nice to have the backup of a place for kids to play in the water where safety features are included in the design. For instance, aquatic playground safety surfacing is skid-resistant and contains anti-microbial properties that allow kids to play without the fear of injuries. If your child is not yet swimming independently, then you can also enjoy watching as your child plays in a zero-depth environment.

Plan a Fun Experience for Diverse Groups

Trying to plan a summer adventure for groups that include people of varying ages and abilities is challenging. Fortunately, splash pads are designed with ADA standards in mind so that kids with limited mobility or sensory challenges are able to enjoy the experience. Splash pads can also be designed with areas for toddlers as well as older kids so that everyone can dive into the chance to play in the water.

Ditch the Guilt About Water Waste

In the past, many families had to rely upon home water sources such as sprinklers for their kids to enjoy some fun in the water. While kids rarely complain about getting to run through a sprinkler, that practice does often lead to significant amounts of water loss. Now, playground planners can choose from custom-themed designs for their splash pad installation. These include features such as sensors that can adjust the water flow to go where kids are actively playing. Since splash pads also use special water filtration and recycling systems, very little of this precious resource goes to waste.

Spray parks are filled with opportunities for kids to burn off their energy while adults enjoy the shade or join in on the fun. When you need a cool activity to do that requires very little planning, a trip to the spray park is the ultimate form of summer entertainment.