The City of Sacramento will celebrate the grand opening of the Mama Marks Splash Pad (1140 Roanoke Ave.) on Saturday, May 31.
The new splash pad includes water jets that shoot into the air along with ocean-themed features, including a sea turtle, starfish and dolphin. It will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The ribbon cutting hosted by Councilmember Roger Dickinson and staff from the Department of Youth, Parks & Community Enrichment will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
“I am thrilled to open the long-awaited Splash Pad at Mama Marks Park,” Dickinson said. “The community can now enjoy this long-awaited addition to the park. We thank YPCE and SHRA for their support and efforts on this project. Their commitment was instrumental in bringing this community asset to life for the children and families of Del Paso Heights.”
The splash pad replaces the original wading pool at Mama Marks Park, which closed in 2018 due to ongoing maintenance challenges and aging infrastructure. The conversion of the wading pool to a spray park allows for a more inclusive and accessible play space, as well as extended public hours of operation.
In 2022, the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) allocated $600,000 through a Community Development Block Grant. In 2024, SHRA allocated an additional $200,000, allowing construction to move forward and the project to be completed.
“The new splash pad provides a safer and more accessible option for families in the neighborhood,” said Jason Wiesemann, YPCE’s park planning and development services manager. “City staff worked hard to get this project completed, and we appreciate SHRA’s support to revitalize the space.”
Stay cool at spray parks, pools & community centers
With higher temperatures expected in the coming days, the City is also reminding residents of several other options to stay cool.
Two City pools—the North Natomas Aquatics Complex and Clunie Pool—are currently open to the public. Additional neighborhood and wading pools are scheduled to open in the coming weeks. Residents can check the full pool schedule and hours at cityofsacramento.gov/swim.
Spray parks are another free and family-friendly way to beat the heat. More than a dozen locations throughout the city offer spray features and shaded play areas and are open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Labor Day.
A full list of spray parks is available on the City’s website. Gardenland and Wild Rose spray parks are currently closed for maintenance.
In addition to outdoor options, libraries and community centers will also be available during their normal hours of operation, and people can also use these air-conditioned buildings as places to cool off.
The City is also activating cooling centers to offer relief from the heat.
