Uh oh...here come the Splashpadites!
To see this impressive structure of metal, concrete and water, it looks like a work of modern art jutting forth from the terra firma of Morsches Park. On paper, it was indeed dazzling and the concept, though we’d never seen on in person, seemed exciting, but I don’t think the full impact of exactly what we’ve got hit me until we went over to experience it ourselves this week.
In five days, I think the children and I have visited newly opened Splashpad at least three times…maybe four…I’ve lost count at this point.
My initial impression in watching the children at the Splashpad was that it was similar to the joy I experienced as a child running through a sprinkler in my favorite purple polka dotted swimsuit. Sheer glee as the cold water ran across my skin, shrill chirps as I skipped through the wet grass. My wet hair streaming in tendrils behind me as I hopped to and fro across the fan of water thrusting its way across my grandparents’ lawn.
Indeed it was the same scene (only better, perhaps), years later, as my own children ran wild through a series of water features in the Splashpad this week. Their favorites seemed to be the water cannons, the dumping buckets and the guyser-like spot on the western edge of the Splashpad. My son described the water as “colder than ice water” and truly touching his skin, it is frigid…but that doesn’t stop any of the dozens of children we’ve seen there in the past week from enjoying it. Warmed by their excitement, water temperature is inconsequential.
It is my opinion that every parent needs to bring their child, at least once, to experience what may be one of the greatest things to happen to summertime in Whitley County in years. The wonder of it is that there are no boundaries – for the first time we have something that everyone from tiny, tanned tankini-wearing toddlers to taller-than-me teenagers can appreciate unabashedly in its simple elegance.
I say “elegance” because the movement of the water and the almost choreographed quality of children running, laughing and playing has a distinctly beautiful quality to it. We should be proud of our new Splashpad and grateful to those who made it possible. I certainly am – as are my newly-obsessed household of Splashpadites.