You probably did not know that the City of Hudson has a Splash Pad at Promenade Hill Park. I did not know, until a meeting this week, and I’m on the City’s Common Council. New York State and other municipalities are all about Splash Pads. Policymakers understand that the planet is getting warmer, kids need a place to cool down, and Splash Pads do not require lifeguards, who in turn would require training and salaries. Splash Pads are the future!
Plus, municipalities are not going to open up fire hydrants and spray water, like they did in my childhood. (Why in MY day, they opened up the fire hydrant and we drank out of the garden hose and we were happy!)
It was a hot day. I decided to check out Hudson’s Splash Pad. My takeaway was that the Splash Pad is similar to a well-meaning, middle-aged recently divorced Dad. The main “pump” was banged up a little, probably by kids with rocks, and after you pumped it a few times, it took a little while for it to get going – but it worked.
It’s not as robust, as you might expect, or want, but it got the job done. Its heart is in the right place and the kids like it, so, like writing this blog post, you want to be careful with the words you choose when asked, “How was it?”
“Oh, it was fine. Yeah. Good.”
You may wonder to yourself, ‘Maybe it was me. Maybe I should have pumped more. Maybe I should give it another chance.’
You don’t want to hurt the Splash Pad’s feelings.
It’s really trying. It just got out of a divorce.
Years from now, when you talk about this, and you will, be kind.
Laura Reynolds, Tea and Sympathy
This is a roller coaster of a post and I’m here for it
Put this post and accompanying movie in the Louve