During the summer, there is nothing quite like that first venture into the swimming pool on a hot summer’s day.

During my youth, we didn’t have a swimming pool. Granted, there was a bayou running behind our house, but I wasn’t keen on swimming with the alligators.

My stay-at-home mom always found ways to entertain us during the summer. However, if we didn’t have a friend who owned a pool or access to a public pool, our options for cooling off were limited.

Since Hurricane Katrina, officials in my hometown have constructed a splash pad at a local park to ensure children have the option of cooling off during our hot Mississippi summers.

I must confess, I felt a twinge of jealousy when I covered the ribbon cutting at Poplarville’s splash pad Wednesday.

Why, you ask? Because I would have loved to run through a splash pad when I was a child.

The closest I came to a “splash pad” was walking through the cooling mists that can be found at theme parks.

It makes me happy to know the children of Poplarville will have this neat feature to enhance their childhood.

It’s a fun way for families to get together and also provides a perfect location for birthday parties.

The new splash pad does more than just make Poplarville a more attractive place to live, but it also promotes family, friendship and physical fitness.

I must give kudos to city officials, public works employees and all the community members who donated their time, money and hard work to ensure the completion of the city’s newest amenity.

The memories that will be made at the splash pad will last a lifetime and it is my hope that the children enjoy their newest treasure.