Sprayground opens early at Springfield’s Snyder Park

With temperatures expected to reach into the 80s all week, the National Trail Parks and Recreation District opened the sprayground at Snyder Park a few days early.

Bethie’s Sprayground was expected to open on Friday. After its inspection on Tuesday morning, the district decided to open it for the season, Director Leann Castillo said.

“We thought with the weather going to be hot all week, we may as well open it early,” Castillo said. “It’s going to be 85 all week and we thought it would be nice.”

The $350,000 water playground near the Speedway Children’s Park was built last summer by the Friends of Snyder Park. It was open for about three weeks, but closed right before Labor Day, Castillo said.

With no staff, the sprayground can stay open much longer than the Splash Zone Family Aquatic Center, Castillo said.

This will be the first full season for the splash pad at the park. It will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. each day and can be activated with the button that says ‘Push me’ on the sidewalk near the sprayground.

“It’s going to be a popular spot this summer,” Castillo said. “We’re really excited people will be able to use it and have a free amenity for the community.”

The district posted the opening on its Facebook page early Tuesday afternoon. Once school let out, several parents, including Sarah Brown, brought her children after seeing the post on social media. The sprayground fits every age group, Brown said.

“Now that we finally have a hot, spring day, it’s nice to let the kids get wet and have that freedom of fun in the good weather,” Brown said.

Jessica Frederick arrived at the Rotary Playground in the afternoon with no idea the splash pad would be open. It’s a great option for people who can’t afford Splash Zone, she said.

“The kids were just so excited,” Frederick said.

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