Push-button activation
Definition
A bollard or button kids can press to start a splash pad's water cycle, usually running for 5–10 minutes before requiring another press.
Push-button activation is the dominant control method on modern splash pads. It conserves water (no spray when no one is there) and gives kids agency. The button is usually a sturdy stainless-steel pedestal placed at the pad edge.
If you arrive at an apparently inactive splash pad, look for the button — many parents assume it's broken when it's just unactivated.