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Christ Lutheran School Preschool - Grade 8 • www.clsphx.org LC-MS Worship Sunday 8:00am & 10:45am – Traditional* | Sunday 8:30am & 10:30am – Contemporary* Sunday School/Bible Classes – 9:40am* | Sunday 12:30pm – Spanish Sunday 6pm – Youth Led Worship! Wednesday 7:00pm – Traditional | Saturday 5:00pm – Contemporary *Nursery Care is available at all Sunday AM services 3901 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix | www.cclphoenix.org | (602) 955-4830 Love GroW Serve EXPERIENCE MATTERS “As a mom to children who attend both public and charter schools here in LD28, I am vested in improving the quality of education for all. It is time to give Arizona children the best opportunity to reach their full potential.” - Maria Syms • Legal Policy Advisor to Arizona Attorney General • Councilwoman, Town of Paradise Valley • Assistant United States Attorney • Member, Governor’s Arizona Substance Abuse Partnership • Representative, Governor’s Sexual Assault Kit Testing Task Force • Chairman, Advisory Committee on Public Safety • Master in Public Administration, Harvard Kennedy School • Adjunct Professor, ASU Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law • Judicial Clerk/Staff Attorney, United States Court of Appeals • School Board Member, Paradise Valley United Methodist Preschool • Board Member, North Central Parenting Group • Chairman, Paradise Valley Planning Commission Paid for by Syms for Arizona SymsForAZ.com / SymsForArizona @SymsForAZ Page 21 July 2016 By Michelle Donati-Grayman Last summer, my twins were too young – and I was too intimidated – to explore the Valley splash pad scene. But with water play and the outdoors being two of their favorite things, I have no doubt that we’ll be making our rounds this summer. I started my quest to find the best splash pads around town by picking the brains of some of the smartest women I know, a group of local moms. The following five emerged as top picks: Mesa Riverview Park 2100 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Mesa www.mesaaz.gov Forget the playground. Try the spray ground at Mesa Riverview Park. The free water play area has multiple water features and is open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The park features a variety of other play equipment, including a 50-foot climbing tower and 60-foot mesh rope climbing structure. The park also offers shaded picnic areas with tables. Desert Breeze Park 660 N. Desert Breeze Blvd., Chandler www.desertbreezerr.com The free splash pad at Desert Breeze Park features three spraying dolphins, one spraying elephant and three ground sprays. It is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. through August. The park is also home to Desert Breeze Railroad, which chugs along a three- quarter mile stretch of the park. The price to ride is $3.75 per person. An antique carousel and coin operated rides are also available. Phoenix Zoo 455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix www.phoenixzoo.org The Phoenix Zoo offers three water play areas throughout the park. Leapin’ Lagoon is perfect for babies and toddlers, while Yakulla Caverns allows school-age children to explore stalactites and stalagmites. Little explorers can visit the Enchanted Forest’s tree house and ride tree trunk slides into the river bottom. Shaded benches and changing areas are available. General admission to the zoo is $20 for adults and $14 for children 3 and over. The zoo is open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. through August. Scottsdale Quarter 15059 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale www.scottsdalequarter.com The Scottsdale Quarter offers a free splash fountain in The Quad. The fountain is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. In addition to 80 retailers and an iPic Movie Theater, the open-air shopping center also offers a number of family friendly amenities, including family restrooms and a nursing mothers lounge. SanTan Village Mall 2218 E. Williams Field Road, Gilbert www.shopsantanvillage.com The SanTan Village Mall’s splash pad is located next to the children’s play area. It is free and is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, but closes from 2 to 3 p.m. for cleaning. The mall is also home to the SanTan Village Kids Club, which is teaming up with National Geographic Kids to create free activities and games that focus on discovery through play starting this summer. Summer lovin’: Have a blast at splash pads around town Desert Breeze Park Phoenix Zoo Scottsdale Quarter SanTan Village Mall Mesa Riverview Park