So you live in Kissimmee, have already returned from family summer vacations, but have kids who have about two weeks before school starts again. They’re out of things to do, and they’re antsy.
In Buenaventura Lakes, you now have an activity to beat the heat as of Monday.
The week started with a ribbon-cutting and grand opening of El Yunque Rainforest Splash Pad, near the back of 65th Infantry Veterans Park on Astor Court, near the intersection of Florida Parkway and Poinsettia Drive.
While the city’s of Kissimmee and St. Cloud have municipal splash pads in city parks, this is the first such water feature for Osceola County.
The theme is a tropical rain forest, and its named after Puerto Rico’s El Yunque National Forest, the only rain forest in the national forest system and well known to those from the island.
A couple of pieces are still being built and will soon be added, but the park is now open during daylight hours seven days a week.
Designed to eliminate standing water, park goers press a button near the front gate to activate the water, which will run for 30 minutes. Pressing the button again starts it back up.
The main feature is a bucket that empties about every 45 seconds, providing a refreshing waterfall to those waiting below.
The park also includes restrooms, picnic tables (at least one is covered) and benches, and a lawn for those who want to put down a blanket and catch some rays.
County Commissioner Viviana Janer, whose district 2 includes Buenaventura Lakes, said she’s been working on adding such a feature to the community since she won office in 2014.
“Kids need a place to play and cool down on these hot summer days,” she said at Monday’s unveiling. “I’m so proud that our staff, the construction team at Quinn was able to make this happen. The bucket simulates the beautiful waterfalls and greenery of El Yunque rainforest, I’m just glad our neighborhood kids can enjoy this before summer ends.”
After funds were earmarked in the budget, ground broke on this county plot about a year ago once pandemic issues started to clear, Janer said.
As part of Monday’s ribbon-cutting, the county welcomed children from the Boys and Girls Club of Buenaventura Lakes. Club officials said — in between shrieks of kids when the bucket dropped another tide of water — that the splash pad will definitely be a part of their programming next summer.
