April 8, 2005/Adar II 28 5765, Volume 57, No. 32
Water fun
TAMI BICKLEY
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 Anya Dippold, a preschooler at Temple Beth Israel's Chanen Preschool, plays in the school's new water park. Photo by Tami Bickley |
Sprayers shot their first blasts of water at laughing tots as Temple Beth Israel's Chanen Preschool in Scottsdale launched the opening of its Beth Israel Water Park on April 1. The park is the only water feature of its kind at a synagogue in the country, according to Beth Israel's Rabbi Stephen Kahn.
Referred to as the "splash pad," the park is located next to the playground in a fenced-off area on the east side of the preschool. It is open April though October only to Chanen pupils.
The play pad's theme is modeled after sprayers and fountain structures at the Tempe Water Park. It features various animals and designs that eject water when manually regulated by preschool staff. Once up and running, the fountains' aim may be turned in different directions when maneuvered by little hands. The splash pad also includes an element of Judaism - a round, red structure that creates a misted Star of David.
Although the aesthetics of the splash pad were important in the planning process, safety is the preschool's No. 1 concern, says Kahn.
"We feel like it's not safe to have standing water of any kind," he says, pointing out that unlike some play fountains, the splash pad never allows for water to puddle. In addition, the ground of the play pad is painted soft turf, now found in a growing number of playgrounds, and used to help cushion falls.
The water park became possible through one woman's generosity and Beth Israel's vision. Myra Levy, who is a Beth Israel congregant, and her family, offered a gift to the preschool, asking what the children needed. Meanwhile, Kahn and temple administrator Terry Taubman felt that a water park would serve the children best, explains Kahn. The temple hired The Construction Zone in Phoenix to build the splash pad, which was completed in February.
Soon afterward, Levy watched as the sprayers and fountains were activated.
"She started to cry," Kahn says. "When someone wants to donate ... and bring smiles to all of (the kids' faces), that is very moving for her and us."
On opening day, the children indeed smiled. Each class was allotted a time slot to play in the splash pad. As preschoolers entered the gates, they stripped down to their swimsuits and ran for the fountains screaming.
"The design allows for the littlest and biggest kids to have fun," says Sharon Rendelman, preschool director. "From the minute we started building (the splash pad), these kids couldn't wait to get in it. They would ask me every day when it would be ready, and now it is."