12 Days Countdown: Splashpads and Parks

Tucson is really a pretty place. There is far more "desert" and much prettier mountain views, but surprisingly it does not have nearly enough parks for the kids and as far as I know only has one park splash pad and another splash pad at the zoo. Phoenix has a great selection of parks, splash pads and even dozens of public pools with water features and water slides. Somewhere in Tucson I hear a collective "oooohhh!" coming from the fellow moms out there. Yeah! Go figure- a city that supports public works projects!

When I lived in Tucson, we used to complain that all the money went to Phoenix. It totally does, but then that's what I love. I love seeing landscaping with grass (yeah, another round of collective "that is so wasteful! We live in a desert!") But it's pretty, I say. Phoenix roads are in much better shape, there are far more beautification projects. And as I already mentioned- tons of parks. And really great ones!

Probably my favorite splash pad is at Tempe Beach Park. It is huge and even has a small water slide. There is also a great one at Desert Breeze, and Rio Vista in the West Valley has a great splash pad next to a really cool play area. When we lived in Ahwatukee, there was even one in the park right next door. There are far more than I've mentioned here; it's almost like a requirement to have a splash pad at a park. And there are tons of parks! Practically every development has at least one, plus there are tons of city parks- small ones and big ones with grassy fields and most have shaded equipment. Probably our favorite park is Tumbleweed in Chandler. It has a ginormous barn themed play area that is shaded, it also has a city play area and a sandy dinosaur dig area.

Tucson, you need more parks and splash pads. Give kids and parents something to do.