Photo Credit: Dallas Park and Recreation Department
They go by many names—spray grounds, splash pads, spray parks, and splash play areas. No matter how they are identified, more and more parks and rec departments are calling them good for business.
Outdoor play areas feature sprinklers, fountains, and nozzles that spray water up and towers that pour water down on kids and adults—without a pool. Parents love them because there isn’t a drowning risk; kids love them because they’re fun and cool. They range from small neighborhood pads to regional water parks and have been springing up more and more in the past 30 years.
However, when it comes to maintenance of these highly popular attractions, there’s more to them than meets the eye.