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.”

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.

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