SAN DIEGO — The splashground at San Diego County’s Waterfront Park is one the most popular ones in the area. And it's free. With it being hot outside, CBS 8 expected big crowds, but there were none.
The fountains were off, and the county has signs posted along the stairs stating the fountains are closed for repairs.
“I feel like a skeleton in a desert,” said 6-year-old Juelz Jackson.
Autumn Houston and her family escaped the Mojave Desert heat and are staying in San Diego for the summer.
“It’s definitely much cooler than Vegas but it’s still hot and it’s summer that water is closed today so hopefully it will be open again soon,” said Houston
But the fountains won’t be turning on anytime soon.
“Oh my gosh that’s definitely a bummer, that is something we didn’t expect for sure,” said Houston.
A spokesperson for the County said the 10-year-old splashground has been closed since September 2023 due to a leak repair.
Many families thought it was just bad timing on their part for why it was closed every time they showed up.
“We went out of our way to see if it was closed for an event or closed for repairs and usually it’s 50/50 odds,” said Hayley, Nanny.
The County said CBS 8 is the first to do a story about the closure.
Michael Workman, San Diego County’s Director of Communications emailed CBS 8 a statement:
"The Waterfront Park fountains are currently shut off for maintenance and leak repair. An investigation has determined that the issue is due to cracking in the drains and in the waterproof materials that line the basin. A repair project has been scheduled and will start in mid-summer 2024.
The parts needed for the repair are unique and are being manufactured."
He added they won’t know the amount of work or the cost until they start digging but said the fountains likely won’t reopen until next summer.
“Really? I would say disappointed would have been my first thought but I was more thankful that I didn’t put four kids in swimsuits and sunscreen and show up and learn that so thank you,” said Hayley.
Meanwhile, the Jackson brothers are cooling off with popsicles but still thinking about the splash pad.
“I like them because you get to play in the water. You could get cool on a hot sunny day,” said Jackson.
Families say they’ll find other ways to cool off on this hot summer and won’t let the fountain closure dampen their plans.
“We were supposed to come back this weekend but now we will change our plan to do something where there will be water,” said Houston.
CBS 8 has complied a list of area splash pads that you can find throughout the county:
San Diego
CIVITA (Mission Valley)
- 7960 Civita Blvd.
- Free
Waterfront Park (CLOSED FOR REPAIRS)
- Downtown 1600 Pacific Highway
- Free
East County
- 1605 Hilton Head Road, El Cajon, CA 92019
- $3 per day
- 9310 Fanita Parkway, Santee, Ca 92017
- Weekday: $4 parking, $3 sprayground wristband,
- Weekend: $7 parking, $5 wristband
South Bay
- Otay Ranch Town Center
2015 Birch Rd., Chula Vista
- 2025 Stylus St., Chula Vista
- Free
- Mountain Hawk Park
1475 Lake Crest Dr., Chula Vista
Free
Bonita
- 3218 Summit Meadow Rd.
- $3 parking, $3 Splash pad wristband
Del Mar
- 12925 El Camino Real, Del Mar 92130
- Free
San Marcos
- 300 Autum Drive, San Marcos
- Free
- 650 Foxhole Dr., San Marcos
- Free
- 1387 W. Borden Rd, San Marcos
- $4 fee
- 751 Mulberry Dr., San Marcos
Sunset Park (CURRENTLY CLOSED)
- 3337 La Mirada Dr., San Marcos
Oceanside
- 3306 Senior Center Dr.
- ($5 Adult, $3 child, $2 spectator)
Poway
- 13094 Civic Center Dr., Poway
- Residents: $4 adult, $3 youth
- Non-residents: $8 adult, $6
County Public Pool at Adams Park in Valley Center and Movie Night in the park
City of San Diego Public Pools and Movie Night in the park.
Amusement parks, private businesses with a fee and YMCA’s are not included. If you don’t see a splash pad on this list, please let us know at workingforyou@cbs8.com
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