CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Nothing feels better during a hot weekend than cooling down at a nearby pool or splash pad. Now, folks in Monroe in Union County are able to find one a little bit easier, thanks to the city’s new splash pad.

The city just opened it, the first in the city’s parks program. It is the result of a North Carolina parks and recreation trust fund grant and city funds freed up by the American Rescue Plan Act.

It’s also a welcome relief from the soaring temperatures of a North Carolina summer.

What You Need To Know

  •  Monroe's first splash pad opened before the Fourth of July holiday

  •  The splash pad is a hit with families looking to cool off during the summer heat

  •  Splash pad is part of a larger push to renovate a city park

“She seems to like it a lot, I think the smaller ones are more for her size,” said Alexis Reed, a new mom using the splash pad.

Reed wanted to escape the heat with her 1-year-old, Sofia.

“She really likes the steady flowing water, more than the sprinkler things. So, it has something for every kid,” Reed said.

The splash pad is part of a multi-phase renovation of Belk Tonawanda Park in Monroe, something Bradley Lucore said is a return on investment to taxpayers.

“Monroe’s booming right now,” Lucore said. “This is a great place to live and to raise a family. We’re experiencing a lot of growth right now, and so — we’re giving back to the citizens and the residents.”

“It’s so hot here, it’s just good to have something for everybody to do. It’s a good, positive thing in the community,” Reed added.

Reed’s little sisters and mom also visit this splash pad. Even though Reed lives about 100 miles away now, she said it would have been great to have in the city while growing up.

“My sisters are 7 and 9, so I think for that age group it’s really great. Especially that big drop bucket. It’s something different not really seen in most communities right now,” Reed added.

Not to mention, it helps parents cool off in more ways than one.

“I think it’s just really good to have something for the kids, get them out of the house. It’s just really necessary, especially when you don’t have access to something. It’s just really great for the community, something like this, to step up and provide,” Reed said.

The new splash pad, which includes a large picnic area for families to hang out, will eventually accept reservations for parties and other events, according to Lucore. 

In the future, the city plans to add an amphitheater, more picnic areas and additional parking to the park.