Splash Pad makes huge wave on opening day.

Tiny tots got a chance to ‘wet’ their appetites as they raced toward the entrance of the Murphy Arts District Splash Pad at the Playscape on Friday.

The Splash Pad opened for the season at 10 a.m. Friday and was filled with children as well as their parents by late noon.

“We wanted to come here on the first day of opening,” said Juanita Goodwin as she escorted her 7-year-old son, Wesley, into the facility.

Goodwin said that last year she and Wesley attended the Splash Pad daily.

“It’s very, very beautiful and he really likes to play in the water as well as that area over there,” she said referring to the playground area as her son tugged on her while gazing toward the water spouts.

Greeter Richard Dunlap had counted nearly 60 people during his shift, with the previous greeter counting over 200 visitors. High temperatures nearing 90 degrees helped to encourage families to escape the heat.

The Smiths of Camden were eager to visit the facility after learning about it. Bryan and Margaret Smith along with their 3-year-old daughter, Crystal, wanted to attend opening day of the Splash Pad.

“My wife and I saw that El Dorado had opened up a new Splash Pad around the Murphy Arts District,” Smith said. “We thought we’d travel, get out and enjoy it.”

Smith said that he planned to enjoy the Splash Pad and relax a little bit in the chairs provided for parents, referring to the facility’s newly installed shaded seating areas. The area provides large shaded areas with reclined seating for parents to relax and watch as their children dash through the sprinklers and spouts of the wet arena.

“We want people to continue to have fun,” said Joanna Benson, marketing coordinator for MAD.

Benson had taken photos of visitors enjoying themselves when the Splash Pad first opened to post on the new MAD Playscape Facebook page. Benson said the facility will be open the entire summer and close down after school starts near Labor Day.

The Splash Pad is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.

Spout: Three-year-old Adrian Pierce plays with a water spout while attending opening day for the Playscape Splash Pad in the Murphy Arts District on Friday.

Photos by Terrance Armstard/News-Times Splash: Three-year-old Crystal Smith of Camden splashes through the water while attending opening day for the Playscape Splash Pad in the Murphy Arts District on Friday.

Water: Seven-year-old Gracelyn Fennel plays in the water while attending opening day for the Playscape Splash Pad at the Murphy Arts District on Friday.