Santa Ana, California celebrated the grand opening of its first dedicated splash pad at Portola Park on July 18, marking a milestone in the city’s ongoing investment in parks and recreation.

The Portola Park Splash Pad features 10 water elements, including funnel twists, rooster sprays, stream jets and a large tipping bucket. The project also includes new shade structures, outdoor showers and renovated ADA-accessible restrooms.

“This is an exciting milestone for our community and for the families who will enjoy this space for years to come,” Mayor Valerie Amezcua says. “We know how important it is to have safe, welcoming places where children can play, especially during hot summer months, and this splash pad delivers exactly that.”

The $2.5m project was funded entirely through the city’s Cannabis Public Benefit Fund. Recent improvements to Portola Park include resurfaced tennis courts, a refurbished basketball court with new LED lighting, new fitness equipment, monument signage and a hydration station with a bottle-filling dispenser and drinking fountain for dogs.

The splash pad is part of a broader effort to expand recreational opportunities across Santa Ana. On July 25, the city will open new sports fields, a community center and a renovated pool at Santa Anita Park. In October, officials plan to open an aquatics center at Memorial Park and reopen the historic Main Library after a two-year modernization project.