BENTON, Ark. — With summer temperatures soaring and a heat advisory in effect, many families in Benton have turned to splash pads as a way to keep children cool and entertained. But for several families, recent visits to the Tyndall Park splash pad ended in painful consequences.
Multiple parents are reporting that their children developed burns, rashes and severe skin irritations after playing at the splash pad earlier this week. Some children complained of itching and burning sensations as water hit their skin, with symptoms appearing within hours—or even minutes—of exposure.
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Rebecca King and Jeff Compton, frequent visitors to the park with their granddaughter, say they’ve never experienced anything like this before.
“That’s not happening now,” Compton said, gesturing toward the now-silent fountains.
As of Thursday, the normally busy splash pad sits dry and locked. The city shut it down after reports of children developing skin issues following normal visits, some lasting less than 30 minutes.
Lydia Gault says her two-year-old son and three-year-old daughter developed rashes and lesions all over their bodies after a short visit on Tuesday. She is one of several parents who say their children are still suffering from symptoms.
Benton’s Marketing Director, Matt Thibault, confirmed a cracked underground pipe disrupted the splash pad’s chemical control system earlier in the week. Once the city was alerted to reports of skin irritation, the splash pad was immediately shut down as a precaution.
“We don’t yet know which chemicals may have caused the irritation,” Thibault said. “We need to test water samples, repair the pipes and have the system fully inspected by the health department before it can reopen.”
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With the necessary repairs located under a concrete section of the splash pad, Compton fears the closure may last through the remainder of the summer.
“It’s underground, under that concrete,” Compton explained. “They’ll probably have to remove the whole section to fix it. I thought they had some kind of routine maintenance, but I haven’t seen a maintenance person out here all summer long,” he said, adding that he previously noticed open access panels near exposed piping.
King, who frequently visited the splash pad last year, said she couldn’t imagine her grandchildren suffering through such symptoms.
“That’s terrible. I just want everyone to be safe—I don’t want anyone to get infections.”
One parent described the state of the water as smelling like “sweaty sunscreen.” Far from the clean, refreshing water families expect.
Despite the inconvenience, Compton and King agree that the closure is necessary for the safety of children.
“I’d rather the kids not have it for the summer and it be safe again, than someone get hurt,” said Compton.
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The city is continuing to investigate the issue and will not reopen the splash pad until all systems are fully operational and certified safe. Families impacted by the incident are encouraged to report symptoms to the city’s parks and recreation department.
