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Feature Story:

City’s Third Spray Playground Opens At Martin Luther King Jr. Park on Monday

If the recent opening of the Planz Spray Park was any indication, the City of Bakersfield’s new water spray playground at MLK Park will be a resounding success. The media and neighborhood residents were invited to participate in the opening festivities at the City’s third new spray park on Monday, June 13th, 2005. Mayor Harvey L. Hall and Councilmember Irma Carson welcomed everyone.

The new Martin Luther King Jr. Park wet play area is located at 1000 South Owens Street adjacent to the community center. A 2,100 square foot concrete pad surrounds the wet play features, with lighting available for evening hours. The City’s newest water spray park is the first to have a theme. "Bob the Bullfrog" stands guard over the wet playground, delighted kids jumped through the spray of his gaping mouth. "Wally the Whale" grabbed their attention as they made their way through a series of spray arches, stood under the splash of his giant tail, or spray from his blowhole. "Bubbles" the sea horse doused children with water and the "Cattail" and "Dumping Bucket" features let the kids become misted or soaked as they playing below. Ground level features also include a "Magic Mist", "Donut" and "Water Tunnel" that emit a mist or stream of water creating tunnels and holes for imagination and play.

Like the City’s other two spray parks at Wayside and Planz Parks, there is no cost to use the new water play area at MLK Park. It will be in operation during regular park hours, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., seven days a week. All City spray parks, including the new facility at MLK Park, will remain open through September, depending on weather conditions.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds were used to pay for the MLK Park spray area equipment and the cost of installation.