When Mac Kid was very little, we were given the advice “when kids get crabby, put them in water.” This has always been good advice for us and Joseph Cole Community Center is the place to do just that.
The spray park here is not fancy but it has a lot to offer. The actual water area is well removed from the street with both a fence and a little wall. This keeps those wondering kids safe from traffic and gives them lots of room to move. It was really hot when we went and at noon, the city was sweltering. When we sat at the spray park, it felt at least 20 degrees cooler than the sidewalk just feet away. The trees provided the perfect amount of shade without overpowering the play area. On the Sunday afternoon that we were there, there was only one other kid in the whole park. This gave plenty of room to splash. The splash park is cement. It is not great for crawlers or new walkers but better for the 2 ½ year old crowd. There were plenty of arches and fountains of water to keep the kids entertained. Mac Kid enjoyed recreating the Olympic hurdle races in the outer circle of fountains.
The Community center also boasts two really great playgrounds. They are separated from each other with one for bigger kids and one for the toddlers. If you have a climber like we do then the sports ball themed playground in the place for you. There are rope walls and many other structures to climb for hours without your kid getting bored in the small park.
There is also a soccer field. The artificial turf is quite impressive and we didn’t expect to see such a professional field. We will be sure to bring a soccer ball next time to kick around
This is the perfect place for a picnic. There were many picnic tables available to enjoy an outdoor meal. There was no shade at those tables when we were there so it isn’t ideal on a hot and sunny day but closer to the evening would be perfect to splash around and enjoy a snack.
This free community area is another testament to how great it is to live in our neighborhood with all of the amazing community offerings. We will definitely enjoy many more days of splashing around at the Joseph Cole Community Center.
