Last week, a special event took place in the heart of Friendship Park.

Two monumental projects were unveiled that will undoubtedly bring joy into the lives of children and adults in Picayune.

The first project, which will be completed just in time for those hot summer days, the splash pad.

Children will be able to run through the cooling sprays of water and develop friendships with others.

Not only is this a great outdoor activity, but also provides another option for fun for families and visitors to Picayune.

The more family-friendly attractions we have to offer, the more people will be likely to spend their vacation dollars here.

Also, there is now a new swing for children who are confined to a wheelchair.

No longer will they only be able to sit and watch others playing on the playground.

This wheelchair accessible swing is a great addition to the park. Lily Reynolds was the first to use the swing and now, instead of just watching her siblings play, she can also participate in fun on the playground.

We sincerely applaud the efforts of everyone who made both of these amenities possible, including the city of Picayune, the Picayune Police Department, the Picayune Kiwanis Club, the members of Pearl River County Partners in Leadership and the children who participated in the police department’s summer camp.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, there are great people here who care about the wellbeing of our children.

If you happen to see a member of any of these groups, take a moment to thank them for the new splash pad and the swing.

It might put a smile on their face, maybe almost as big as the smile Reynolds wore when she rode the swing Thursday evening.