Splash Pad — Attraction in Springville

We love this place. Best part is that as a parent you can see your troop quite well from just about anywhere you sit. Lots of shady places for blankets, and a few picnic tables mostly to the west. Playground to the southwest is fun. 4 saddle swings and two bucket swings made of blue plastic and a metal that both weren't too hot in the sun (plus the swings are pretty shaded a good portion of the day), but the slides were a brown plastic that got blistering hot, not fun. But still plenty to climb on and do. Wood chips around the equipment (along with a peppering of black beetles the size of toy cars; has anyone else noticed how those bugs seem to come to the woodchips to die?) and lots of benches and garbage cans.

Then the splash pad is just great. From the east, a soft falls starts off the lazy river that flows to the west amid rocks and between borders, passing fountains and statues with a steady, swirling pace. Fun to send a leaf or toy boat down (or mom's flip flops) and chase after. The textured river bottom and concrete around make it feel pretty safe to let kids run about, whether they have shoes or not. It's a very comfortable temperature and current. It gets deepest to the east, maybe six inches? before it drains and recycles. Also at the east end is the main round splash pad with high spouts and fountains as well as smaller sprays for getting in and getting soaked or just whipping little hands in and out at the edge.

Be aware of wasps and hornets and bees, and have necessary supplies on hand. And there are a couple of low spots in the grass near sidewalks with standing water that's a bit icky, so keep an eye out for those.

A drinking fountain and restrooms building are right near the south center of the river; the women's has a spacious handicapped stall and a typical cramped single stall with flush toilets that happily don't spray water all over the seat when you flush. But the sink water pressure sprays all over. There's a towel dispenser, but it was empty at our visit. Great...

I have visited both the Springville and Provo splash pads now and I prefer Springville's splash pad hands down.

Parking was close by and easy to find even with a carnival being set up and vendor booths on the other side of the park. (Maybe it was luck, maybe good planning - I will have to visit a few more times to determine which.)

The Springville splash pad has more variety and covers a larger area when compared with the Provo splash pad. There is a circular area where fountains continuously shoot out of the pad all around. The fountains did not shut off for an unknown pause time (as happens at the Provo splash pad) during the 2 hours we were there. In addition to the circular pad there is a long S-shaped stream running through the park. It has fake rocks to sit or play on and various fountains all along it (including statues of children holding hoses or others objects that produce fountains).

There were also plenty of shaded areas nearby so parents could relax while watching...

This is a nice place to come on a hot day. They have a little area that has water shooters that come from the ground and side and a river area with water shooters.

There is a playground with big and little slides, a bridge, and places to climb and balance. There are swings for kids and babies. Restrooms are located close to the splash pad and playground.

There are a few shade trees, but they fill up fast. This splash pad is very busy, so come early and bring shade. The restrooms are pretty clean but often out of TP or soap, so we always pack some along. The water fountain hasn't worked when we've been here so make sure you bring plenty. Parking is also limited. You aren't allowed to park on the west side of the street, so if you come later in the day you'll need to park down one of the neighboring streets. It's not too far of a walk, especially if you...