Designated nursing area
Definition
A shaded, semi-private seating area near the splash pad — usually with a glider or rocking chair, an outlet for a breast pump, and sightlines to the pad — for parents nursing or pumping while older kids play.
Designated nursing areas are a recent upgrade at well-funded municipal splash pads, driven by state laws expanding the right to breastfeed in public spaces. The area is not enclosed (which would block sightlines and create unsafe conditions for the older child in the pad) but is screened by lattice, plantings, or a low wall.
Key amenities include a comfortable glider, a small side table, a 110V outlet for breast pumps, a hydration station within 20 feet, and a hook for a nursing cover. Some pads add a small refrigerator for storing pumped milk during longer visits.