Tucson, AZ

A spectacular spring is melting into the bake-oven heat we Tucsonans deal with come every June and July. Within the last few years our coping options have expanded with the completion of the Brandi Fenton Memorial Park at the new conjunction of River and Alvernon Roads in the north central foothills.

Last Saturday my sister and I took the kids to the park to play in the Splash Pad there. It’s a giant water wonderland the likes of which doesn’t exist elsewhere in Tucson. OK, maybe it’s not that phenomenal but it certainly feels good when it’s hot enough outside to bake a loaf of bread in the trunk of your car.

Already the splash pad was crawling with kids and ours jumped right in to join them. The splash pad is fully enclosed by a metal fence of vertical blue bars with gates in three places. At each gate a sign tells you the park is open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, and one push of the button will get you 15 minutes of water play. I have a feeling that button got pushed every 15 to 30 seconds! All the hoops spray water continuously, the buckets gradually fill and then tip to drench the relief-from-the-heat-seeker below.

Two water cannons allow gunners to soak each other from opposite ends of the park, or, as we witnessed that day, to blast unsuspecting passers-by full in the face. One kid did this persistently, and when a victim’s father approached the perp’s dad, they dropped a few f-bombs and unsavory insults and nearly came to blows. A bit of Jerry Springer at the Splash Pad.

No doubt the splash pad is the park’s crowning jewel, but it also boasts many other amenities, such as shaded areas to stake out your territory. The ramada shown here features four large concrete tables with two inlaid checkerboards apiece (bring your own chessmen or checker!). Around the park two more ramadas provide shade and a party place. For $35 you can reserve a ramada for the entire day. We’ve already decided to have Jack’s next birthday party here.

Even in 100+ degree weather, kids get cold when they’re wet. After playing in the splash pad for a while, Jack and Evan scampered around the larger of the two play structures, meant for children 5 to 12 years of age. We watched them from the smaller play structure, which was designed for kids younger than 5 and is fully shaded. After shaking the chill the kids went back to the splash pad.

This big rock in the grassy area near the splash pad is as much fun to climb on as the play structures. The building in the distance, the one with the corrugated metal roof, houses bathroom facilities like you’d find at any other public park, with the benefit of a baby changing station in the women’s room (don’t know about the men’s).

You can access the park by turning west at the intersection of River and Alvernon, or by the Rillito River walking path, which runs along much of the Rillito from Craycroft to Stone, maybe even further. If you remember to bring snacks, sunscreen, and swimsuits, you can make a day of it.