<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="River Parks Plaza by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4735127207/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4735127207_55412ac978.jpg" alt="River Parks Plaza" width="332" height="500" /></a></div>
The city of Tulsa manages over 130 parks, and <a href="http://www.cityoftulsa.org/culture--recreation/tulsa-parks.aspx">31 of them offer water playgrounds</a>. Just think - that's a splash pad for every day of the month, all right here in Tulsa.

It's also a lot of water park to navigate all on your little lonesome. To help out, a certain kiddo would like to offer his guide to Tulsa splash pads to all of you - he just loves to be of service.

<a name="more"></a>Take it away, son!
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="River Parks Plaza by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4735126985/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/4735126985_47e09d09d5.jpg" alt="River Parks Plaza" width="332" height="500" /></a></div>
Thanks, Mom. I'll just jump right in.

<strong>Step 1: Survey the crowd</strong>.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="River Parks Plaza by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4735765348/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/4735765348_162029321f.jpg" alt="River Parks Plaza" width="500" height="332" /></a></div>
It's important for a kid to get a lay of the social land in play at any given splash pad. You want to be sure to identify the cool kids, right? And you want to be able to befriend them, don't you? After all, no one wants to start things off on the wrong foot. It'd be social suicide, man.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="River Parks Plaza by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4735128067/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/4735128067_9c58315b8b.jpg" alt="River Parks Plaza" width="332" height="500" /></a></div>
A crucial step for the guys: You gotta scope out the ladies.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="River Parks Plaza by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4735128199/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4735128199_4efea87af7.jpg" alt="River Parks Plaza" width="332" height="500" /></a></div>
If you find one who is extra fine, don't be afraid to tell her so. After all, with all of the different splash pads in town, what are the odds the two of you will meet up again at the same one, at the same time?
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="River Parks Plaza by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4735127911/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4735127911_9dbebf5d9d.jpg" alt="River Parks Plaza" width="332" height="500" /></a></div>
Life is short, people. Play hard.

<strong>Step 2: Test all water spouts</strong>.

There are a few ways to go about this. I always like to start with a good, old-fashioned finger poke.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="River Parks Plaza by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4735126985/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/4735126985_47e09d09d5.jpg" alt="River Parks Plaza" width="332" height="500" /></a></div>
Again, it's all about getting things started on the right foot.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="River Parks Plaza by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4735126771/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4735126771_f06978b3f9.jpg" alt="River Parks Plaza" width="332" height="500" /></a></div>
Next, give the spout a good splash.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="River Parks Plaza by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4735127127/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4735127127_dcdf7c9799.jpg" alt="River Parks Plaza" width="332" height="500" /></a></div>
If all seems to be in order, up the ante with a good stomp.

Gentle at first...
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="River Parks Plaza by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4735764488/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4735764488_83dabd4965.jpg" alt="River Parks Plaza" width="333" height="500" /></a></div>
...then good and strong.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="River Parks Plaza by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4735764276/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4735764276_afc8984bc5.jpg" alt="River Parks Plaza" width="332" height="500" /></a></div>
That's the ticket.

Be sure not to neglect the other parts of the water park. It's your responsibility as a kid to thoroughly test the entire splash pad. Leave no stone - or, spout, as it were - unturned. Don't be afraid to go above and beyond.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="River Parks Plaza by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4735764948/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4735764948_6374ab133c.jpg" alt="River Parks Plaza" width="332" height="500" /></a></div>
Or down and deep.

Very deep.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="River Parks Plaza by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4735127473/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4735127473_581aaa73b1.jpg" alt="River Parks Plaza" width="332" height="500" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="River Parks Plaza by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4735765140/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4735765140_a707b405bd.jpg" alt="River Parks Plaza" width="332" height="500" /></a></div>
While this spout testing stuff is hard work, it's okay to enjoy your job.

And don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="River Parks Plaza by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4735127697/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4735127697_75b4660af4.jpg" alt="River Parks Plaza" width="332" height="500" /></a></div>
<strong>Step 3: Test the quality of the water</strong>.

This is most easily done by getting as close to the water as possible.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="River Parks Plaza by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4735128459/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4735128459_e40a1c2b41.jpg" alt="River Parks Plaza" width="332" height="500" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="River Parks Plaza by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4735128631/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/4735128631_af9882f64d.jpg" alt="River Parks Plaza" width="332" height="500" /></a></div>
Don't be shy. No one was ever give the corner nursery for being timid.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="River Parks Plaza by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4735128881/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4735128881_59de744dba.jpg" alt="River Parks Plaza" width="332" height="500" /></a></div>
For optimal water testing, really get up close and personal with the stuff.
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="River Parks Plaza by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4735128743/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4735128743_d08fd74d2a.jpg" alt="River Parks Plaza" width="333" height="500" /></a></div>
Yeah. Like that.

If you've done your job well, and if you've completed all three of these techniques for optimal splash pad use, by the time Mom or Dad or Grandma says it's time to call it a day, you should look a little something like this:
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="River Parks Plaza by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4735765828/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4735765828_9a3ab6a81e.jpg" alt="River Parks Plaza" width="332" height="500" /></a></div>
Happy. Tired. Hungry.

And above all, absolutely soaked to the bone. It's the ultimate sign of a splash pad inspection job well done.