RJ's Spray Park will open at Kroc Community Center Center in Ashland on July 1
A new aquatic adventure will be available to Ashland County children once it's completed this month.
RJ's Spray Park at the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, 527 E. Liberty St., will open July 1, according to LeeAnn Hastings, a marketing specialist for the Salvation Army.
Community members are invited to attend an open house 11 a.m.-2 p.m. July 1.
"Attendees will be able to enjoy the splash pad for the first time," Hastings said.
The rest of the community center will be available during the open house, too, including the indoor fitness center, water park and bounce house.
'Some of the park's aquatic features will also make sounds'
The Salvation Army's old splash park was dismantled in 2020 to make room for the Kroc Center’s indoor water park, which opened in 2021.
The new park is named after Ray and Joan Kroc. The 6,000-square-foot spray park was built adjacent to the picnic pavilion that was relocated when construction began for the indoor water center.
"Thanks to the generosity of Bob and Jan Archer and the Norma Foundation, their combined gifts of $175,000 helped to greatly offset the total cost of approximately $250,000," Hastings said. "Funding to relocate the pavilion was provided by the Ashland County Community Foundation and Campbells Soup provided a donation to support the spray features for children with disabilities."
The splash park will have more than 25 spray features, including some familiar favorites such as the friendly frogs and charming dolphins spurting water across the pad. There also will be splashing buckets, sprinklers, water cannons and geysers.
"Some of the park's aquatic features will also make sounds," Hastings said. "The sound features add that extra stimulation that help children develop motor skills."
The park was designed to be accessible for young people with physical or other developmental limits, as the concrete pad allows for easy wheelchair accessibility.
Day passes will be available for purchase
RJ's Spray Park will be open 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday.
"Members have access during the remaining hours of operation," Hastings said. "Day passes for the spray park and indoor waterpark will be available for purchase as well."
Since the park will be near the picnic pavilion, families are encouraged to take part in the Ashland Kroc Center's Summer Food Service Program, which helps children who receive free or reduced-price lunch in school during the summer.
"Operated in conjunction with the USDA and from the Kroc’s picnic pavilion during the summer months, the Kroc’s Summer Food Service Program provides a free, healthy meal each weekday from June 12 to Aug. 11," Hastings said. "Nutritious meals will be served on site from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. for children under the age of 18. There is no registration required."
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This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: More than 25 spray features part of RJ's Spray Park in Ashland
