Yuma to replace worn splash pad at Friendship Park

The splash pad at Friendship Park will close Monday, May 4, as the City of Yuma begins a full replacement of the worn water play area at Avenue A and 34th Place, a site tucked in the shadow of Yuma’s water tower.

City officials said the feature had been repaired before, but the aging equipment had reached the point where patchwork fixes were no longer enough. The decision marks a bigger maintenance move for one of Yuma’s most used family spaces, where free water play draws toddlers, nonswimmers and older children during the hottest months of the year.

The new installation is expected to include a new surface, spray features and lighting. City materials say the work should take about three months, with the updated splash pad targeted to be ready for summer. During construction, the splash pad area will be closed.

Friendship Park is one of the city’s better-known neighborhood recreation spots and offers more than just water play. The park also includes a playground, rentable ramadas, grills, benches, picnic tables, restrooms, a walking path and exercise equipment, making it a regular stop for families in Yuma County when temperatures climb.

The replacement also fits into a larger park-maintenance picture for the City of Yuma Parks and Recreation Department, which maintains more than 600 acres of parks and facilities across the city. That system includes 32 parks, eight neighborhood basin parks, nine athletic complexes and two golf courses, a scope that makes routine upkeep and long-term replacements a major part of the department’s work.

Eric Urfer, who has led the department since 2022 and has more than 30 years of experience in parks, recreation and tourism management, has recently framed park upgrades as part of the city’s effort to provide safe, well-maintained public spaces. City planning efforts have also shown that residents place a high priority on safe and well-kept parks, a message reflected in the decision to replace rather than continue repairing the Friendship Park splash pad.