MANSFIELD, Texas — A splash pad at a Mansfield park will be closed Wednesday, and possibly Thursday, as the city says a rather large colony of bees has been drawn to the water source.
According to a Facebook post from the city's parks and recreation department, there is a creek that runs alongside the park where the splash pad is, McClendon Park West, that has dried up in the summer heat. This has led to nearby wildlife searching for other sources of water.
"A rather large colony of bees have discovered that the splash pad begins dispensing cool, fresh water each day at 10 a.m. and have declared this the hottest watering hole in town, much to the dismay of Mansfield toddlers who just want to play," the Facebook post says.
The city can't spray standard insect treatments into the water where kids will be playing. So, instead, they will close the splash pad to dry it out. Pest control has also treated nearby landscaping with safe, organic treatments to deter the bees, and park staff have placed a bucket of watermelon snow cone syrup away from the splash pad to lure the bees away.
Despite this pad being closed, the department said the splash pads at Chandler Park and Gertie Barrett Park will remain open, and don't currently have a bee problem.
