Kids of all ages can run through the water jets shooting up from the ground or out of the giant frog’s mouth, or stand underneath a water shower.

If the jets aren’t running, be sure to activate them by placing your hand on the circular sensor on ground on the north side of the splash pad.

Resist the urge to place your hand inside of the hand shape (ehem, like I did) – it will do nothing but make you look like you are trying to become one with the asphalt.

When you’ve had enough of playing in the water, dry off in the restrooms located next to the splash pad and then head to one of the three playground areas.

Check out that soft, spongy landing area underneath the equipment. No broken bones here, right?

Next to the southeast playground area is Joplin’s only dog park, which is a great idea but requires a bit of planning in order to utilize it.

Dog owners must bring all veterinarian records to the Joplin Parks and Recreation office and pay a fee for their dog to gain admission to the park. The fee covers the cost of the magnetic gate card that owners receive (which allows access into the fenced Mars Pet Care dog park area), plus a tag that is attached to the pet’s collar to show that all shots are up to date. Once the paperwork is complete, dogs and their people can enjoy the drinking fountains and play areas inside of the dog park.

Just northeast of the dog park is an area landscaped with rocks and water; a fun place to explore, for sure. There’s a water pump there, and we saw a family sit down next to it and start filling up water balloons. What a great idea!

Parr Hill Park definitely offers something for every person – and every dog.

Parr Hill Park is located at 18th Street and Kansas Avenue. Click here for more information.

To read more about my adventures in the area, visit JoplinMOLife.com.