Splash Pads are a set of water filled fountains and showers for kids to run through, and a great way to cool off.
A Ventura County Splash Pad is now welcoming back families after a 16 month long closure because of COVID restrictions.
About 20 children of all ages are squealing with excitement as they get soaked from all angles at the Splash Pad in Oak Canyon Community Park in Ventura County on a hot summer’s day.
It’s recently reopened following over a year-long closure because of COVID restrictions.
It’s one of a handful of similar facilities across the Central and South Coast - which are a highlight for parents like Nicole Ochoa and her daughter Brielle, who is 4 and a half.
"She loves it all. It's so nice to have some normalcy and to have my daughter join with other kids. We missed it so much," she told KCLU.
Brielle agrees that it's "a lot of fun" - before running back into the spouting water fountains.
Bryan McQueen, Recreational Supervisor for Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, says he’s delighted the feature is back open for families.
"We finally opened up, after being closed for 16 months," he told KCLU. "This was not a feature where it was easy to socially distance or wear a masks, so it was a tough one to police whereas pools could be open."
"We have circulated water, so it's chlorinated," he explained.
And the best bit? McQueen says that parents don't have to get wet themselves.
While parents accompanying their youngsters at the pad extol the virtues of the free activity.
"It's so nice to have this open. They have played here for five hours," one mom told KCLU. "They always nap easily after."
