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A muddy mess left behind at the Simplot Park splash pad, where city crews responded Thursday morning to clean up after an act of vandalism. PortageOnline/Cory Knutt
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A muddy mess left behind at the McCain Interactive Fountain in Simplot Central Park, where city crews responded Thursday morning to clean up. PortageOnline/Cory Knutt
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A messy surprise delayed splash pad playtime at Simplot Central Park on Thursday morning, as city crews arrived to clean up mud, rocks and other debris left scattered across the play area.

A local daycare group arrived around 11 a.m. and waited as staff worked to assess and address the mess.

One daycare worker said they noticed the debris right away during their usual safety check.

“We always do a safety check when we come in the morning and there was rocks and mud all over the splash pad,” she said. “We did the best we could.”

A City of Portage la Prairie work truck parked near the splash pad at Simplot Park during cleanup efforts.
A city work truck on-site at Simplot Central Park Thursday morning as crews responded to the mess at the McCain Interactive Fountain, which had been littered with mud, rocks, and debris. PortageOnline/Cory Knutt

She added that city workers stopped by to evaluate the situation and planned to return later in the day to continue the cleanup. A nearby resident also pitched in, reportedly removing several large cushions from the area earlier that morning.

“We just wish that everybody would take care of it,” the staff member said, noting their daycare has visited the splash pad two or three times so far this summer.

She said the site offers a welcome break from the daycare centre and is something the kids look forward to every year.

No word on when the splash pad will reopen.

Close-up view of mud, rocks, and debris scattered across the surface of the splash pad at Simplot Park.
A closer look at the mess left behind at the Simplot Central Park splash pad. City crews began cleanup Thursday morning as families waited nearby. PortageOnline/Cory Knutt

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