Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
HAVING A wet and wonderful time at the downtown square splash pad in Ironwood are members of two families beating the heat early on Thursday evening. At left is Cameron Menigoz, playfully fending off an attack from his son, Rudy, 5, wielding a long squirt gun. At right is Bruce Furyk holding up his daughter, Ellie, 5, as his other daughter, Abigail, 3, dashes behind him. In the center, waiting for the right moment in which to barge in, is Rudy's little brother, James, 2. In the background, from left, are Zoe, 12, the girls' older sister, and Natalie Furyk, their mother. The blue button in the forefront turns the water on.
By P.J. GLISSON
Ironwood - While temperatures lingered in the 80s on Thursday, some folks took refuge with cold drinks and air conditioning while others hit the sun face-to-face, albeit with a little help at Ironwood's new downtown square.
A splash pad within the square is a popular place with local children, who relish running through the multiple jets of water that burst from a cement pad.
Parents can watch from picnic tables on the adjacent lawn or - better yet - join right in on the fun.
The evidence was clear on Thursday when two families found themselves, spontaneously, playing together in their joint effort to take refuge from the heat.
Warm squeals of delight combined with cool sprays of water as the kids ran through the splash pad over and over again.
"This is our first time coming here," said Cameron Menigoz of Ironwood, who was with his two sons, Rudy, 5, and James, 2. "It's a really nice place for them to play."
Natalie and Bruce Furyk of Kimball, Wisconsin, were also present with their daughters, Abigail, 3, and Ellie, 5, who stayed busy playing with the Menigoz boys.
The girls' older sister, Zoe, 12, was there to cheer them all on.
Natalie Furyk said the family visits the site often. "At least, like, three times a week," she said. "Whenever it's hot, we come here after supper."
From Natalie's perspective, it's also an opportunity to meet friends. "Usually, it seems like the same kids come at the same time, so they get to know them," she said of her girls.
She's even made the plunge herself at times. "It's actually really refreshing," she assured.
Overall, she assessed, the activity is fun for the kids - "and it's free."
Although the kids loved racing back and forth through the little fountains of water, sometimes bravely sticking their faces in the middle of the spray, they also were excited to use the water control stick - so much so that their parents reminded them to take turns.
The downtown square also includes an outdoor fireplace and an elevated area with a pergola for live music. It's also equipped for winter sports such as skating and sledding.
Another advantage is that the splash pad and picnic tables are wheelchair-accessible.
The park was made possible in 2020 with the help of a nearly $1.5 million grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
It is anchored by West McLeod Avenue and the streets of West Aurora, South Lowell and South Lawrence.
One more advantage for parents is that, most likely, kids who play hard at the park will return home to sleep well that night.
"We hope so," chuckled Natalie, knowingly. "That's why we do it."
