(Reporter7.com 2007-05-17) The water was turned on for the public for the first time May 14, at the Louisville Zoo's Glacier Run Splash Park. Mayor Jerry Abramson led the countdown, and Zoo Director John Walczak along with kindergartners from St. Francis of Assisi got soaked by the 42 unique spray opportunities.

'I've been dreaming about this Splash Park for 28 years and now the day has finally come!- Zoo Director John Walczak said. 'Today we answered the question, ‘How do you make a kid happy?' The answer is, ‘Just add water!'-

The Splash Park is nautically themed to fit in with the new Glacier Run Exhibit that will have components opening over the next several years and will be fully complete with a fantastic polar bear pool and more by 2010.

'We're excited to open up the new Glacier Run Splash Park, an interactive aquatic playground for the young, and the young at heart,- Abramson said. 'Zoo guests will be able to get as wet as they wish. With lots of sprayers, water jets, dump buckets and waterslides ' you can just cool off or you can get completely soaked!-

Louisville Zoo board president Mark Wheeler and Glacier Run capital campaign co-chair Sandra A. Frazier talked about how the Splash Park is just the beginning of great things to come.

'John Walczak and his team at the Zoo are implementing a bold vision for the Zoo's future,- Frazier said, 'and I am certainly excited to be part of this dynamic effort.-

Glacier Run Splash Park is the perfect place for kids to escape Kentucky's hot summer days, and it is free with Zoo admission or Zoo membership! It is open during park hours.

'The Louisville Zoo is about fun,- Walczak said, 'and whether you are 3 or 93, you can come to the Splash Park to cool off for a fun, refreshing reprise.-

It features:
A 20-foot long and 25-foot high fishing boat for kids to climb on
Two water slides off the back of the boat
Dump buckets and spray heads on the deck of the boat
A 50-foot geyser that will erupt from the mast on a timed basis
A jelly jet launcher (two kids pump up the launcher and when the pressure reaches a certain point it triggers water sprays)
Crates and barrels where kids can push buttons and pull ropes to trigger various sprays and splashes

Designed with safe, family fun in mind the area also includes:
Lots of splashes and sprays but NO standing water
A play zone just for toddlers
Cushioned playground surfaces
Fenced area with only one way in and out
Plenty of comfortable seating
Two picnic pavilions
A restroom complex with facilities for men and women plus 2 family restrooms which can be used as changing areas

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The Louisville Zoo is the state zoo of Kentucky and a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Our collections, which include botanical gardens, are accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM) and by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which is building North America's largest wildlife conservation movement by engaging and inspiring over 143 million visitors and their communities to care about and take action to help protect wildlife.