Manteca Recreation & Community Services is showcasing the newest Woodward Park amenity with a Splash Pad Bash on Saturday, Aug. 1, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

The celebration will be followed at 8:30 p.m. with the free movie in the park featuring the “Smurfs” film.

It’ll be the ideal place to cool down Saturday as the National Weather Service is forecasting a high of 101 degrees.

The splash pad will be open.

In addition, there will be water play activities available, a live DJ, food trucks and vendors, as well as character photo opportunities.

Attendees are encouraged to wear bathing suits and bring lawn chairs.

The $3.4 million splash pad project — which uses 145 gallons of water a minute that is then treated and recycled — opened at the start of summer.

And with 26 interactive spray features, there’s plenty of ways to have fun.

The splash pad was designed to allow for other uses — such as gatherings when the water is not turned on.

There are numerous seating options within the space ranging from standard concrete picnic tables to seating walls and rock slabs of various heights designed to provide “natural” seating options suitable in size for tots up to adults.

It also has two other features that you won’t find in run-of-the-mill splash pads — landscaping that is part of the internal design and shade structures.

City Manager Toni Lundgren noted shade structures are expensive options but are key to creating a pleasant overall experience, especially when temperatures in Manteca soar past 90 degrees and even beyond the century mark on cloudless summer days.

Hours & pad use rules

Almost all of the water — except for evaporation and such — is recycled through a mini treatment plant housed to the south of the splash pad and uses.

That is in addition to what water is used at an outdoor shower that is part of the splash pad.

The water play addition is also compliant with ADA standards.

The splash pad hours are daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with its “season” of operation expected to be from early spring to early fall.

The rules are as follows:

*No drinking of the water.

*Children must be supervised by adults at all times.

*No running or rough play; no climbing or hanging on equipment.

*No food, drinks, glass, or pets on the splash pad.

*No bikes, skateboards, scooters, or other wheeled toys allowed.

*Swim diapers required for children not toilet trained.

The project also included replacement restrooms between the picnic shelter and splash pad, new restrooms near the storm retention basin, and sidewalk connecting with the perimeter sidewalk from Woodward Avenue so pedestrians do not have to walk on the parking lot entrance driveway or the grass.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com