Goosey conquering the SplashPad.

Splashpads are all the rage in certain parts of the country, but they’re uncommon here in northern New England. I was ecstatic a couple of years ago when I discovered the Splashpad at Don Ball Park in Derry, New Hampshire. That’s right down the road!

If you’ve never been to a splashpad here are some things to keep in mind. First, you’re going to get wet, so plan on it. There is mist and water squirting everywhere, so don’t expect to stay dry. Wear something appropriate so that you won’t be either embarrassed (avoid white) or frustrated (like your super expensive sandals getting soaked).

Lew playing it safe around the edges.

Second, if you have really little ones, like I did on our first visit, take a few minutes to watch the pad function. The last thing you want is your toddler running around, having a blast, only to be knocked down by a sudden geyser of water that you hadn’t anticipated. The splashpad in Derry had more little kid-friendly features around the edges of the pad.

Third, keep dry a second set of dry towels in the car. The towels we took with us to the pad got soaked. We were glad we had another set in the car to wrap the kids in and to sit on on the way home.

Finally, some Don Ball Park specific advice. The playground there is awesome. Except for small children. There are bridges, places to climb, and slides that are quite high up in the air. I was so nervous, knowing that if one of my kids fell they’d break a bone for sure. In the end, the thing that got them was the biggest slide. It was so tall, and their little bodies flew down it so quickly that they couldn’t control landings and ended up hurting themselves. So have fun, but beware!

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