Mountain Lake Park’s first 60 years featured a small lake where families could gather in the summer while children splashed about in the water to cool off. Although that lake has long been lost to history, 6 years ago the town created a new spot for families to gather while kids cooled off that was unlike anything ever seen in Garrett County — a splash pad.
The splash pad is located at Leo Martin Memorial Park just south of Maryland Highway (MD 135) on G Street in Mountain Lake Park. Spread across its 1,650-square-foot slip-resistant surface are mushroom, fire hydrant, and rain curtain features along with dumping buckets, water loops, and 18 random jets of water. “My kids love playing in the water, getting dunked on by the buckets, staying cool, and making new friends just about every time they are there,” said McHenry resident Erin Painter. She continued, “It’s in a very convenient location, easily accessible, has decent parking, lots of space to spread out your towel and relax, the covered pavilion makes it nice for shade, and the best thing is: it’s free!”
Open from 11:00 a.m. until dusk, Memorial Day into the early fall, the splash pad is free to use. A kid-friendly foot sensor turns on its water features for about 10 minutes. First-timers looking for the sensor only need to wait for the water flow to stop as kids race to step on it to start the water going again.
A patio area with picnic tables and a covered pavilion with vending machines are adjacent to the splash pad. Restroom facilities, trash cans, a drinking fountain, and an outdoor shower are conveniently located nearby. Mayor Don Sincell said that unlike a pool or beach which requires constant supervision to keep young children safe, the splash pad is more relaxing for parents or grandparents, especially when visiting with children who cannot swim. He added, “We have free Wi-Fi up there, bring your iPad, read a book, and your kids are going to be fine.”
The concept of a splash pad in Mountain Lake Park began around 2018. The town had only two parks and wanted to create a third. Sincell
said the town wanted the new park to have a water feature for children to play in. During a trip out west, he had seen kids enjoying a splash pad and thought, “We could do that.”
Named for the town’s previous mayor for 16 years from 2001 to 2017, funding for the Leo Martin Memorial Park, including the splash pad, came from Program Open Space and Community Parks and Playgrounds grants. Initial designs for the park, including its round stage, pavilion, and walking path, were done by Garrett County native Daniel Lucas, and it was constructed over a 2-year period. The park’s location was once the home of the 5,000-seat Bashford Amphitheater that opened in 1900. It now serves as a gateway hub into the town’s historic district and the home of its Victorian Chautauqua festival held annually in July. Just steps away from the park is the Ticket Office Museum, where free maps for a self-guided tour of the cottages and other locations in the historic district are available; and the Bethel Center is located across the street. Broadford Lake Park is about a mile north.
The town has certified pool operators (including the Mayor) who maintain the splash pad’s 1200-gallon recirculating water system, checking its water quality and chemistry three times a day during the season. At the end of each season, when the weather gets too cold for comfortably using a splash pad, town personnel remove the features from its surface and prepare the pumps and water recirculation system for winter. The process is reversed each spring to get the splash pad operational again before its annual inspection. Other than those seasonal activities, it has been a low-maintenance enhancement to the town.
The pavilion is available to rent for $40 by calling the town clerk at 301-334-9027 during business hours. Note that a pavilion reservation does not restrict public access to the splash pad. That hasn’t been a problem for folks renting it, as Sincell observed, “They’ll tell me later that they had kids who showed up, and they just invited them to have a hot dog or get a plate – it’s been all positive.”
Painter said, “The splash pad was a wonderful addition to the community and the county. It’s kind of a secret spot for the locals, and it’s hardly ever super busy. I recommend it to anyone with young children from toddlers to teens.” Sincell emphasized he doesn’t care where a kid’s from, “it’s for everybody, and it’s free.” He reflected, “I knew going in, it was going to be a real hit. There’s nothing else in the County like it.”
Upcoming events at Leo Martin Memorial park: Wednesday, June 17, starting at 4:00 p.m., Mountain Lake Partners and the Town of Mountain Lake Park are hosting “Bounce Into Summer,” a family-friendly free event at the splash pad with two bounce houses, games, music, and free food (rain date: June 24); and The Victorian Chautauqua will be held on July 11 and 12.
Written by Evan Byrne.