SPRINGVIEW, Neb. - Public swimming pools are becoming harder to find across the country, with only about 309,000 remaining nationwide, according to the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance. But in the heart of north-central Nebraska, the town of Springview is turning the tide with a creative and community-driven solution.

The town, home to just 242 residents, recently unveiled a brand-new splash pad—an amenity that’s already making a big splash with local families.

“We don’t have a pool, so we can come to the splash pad,” said eight-year-old Hadley Hoover, who, along with her sister Macy, was one of the first to try it out during the grand opening celebration.

Located right in the middle of town, the splash pad is more than just a way to cool off. It’s a symbol of what a determined small town can achieve when it pulls together.

“It’s huge for our small community,” said Linnea Steinhauser, co-chair of Springview’s Community Betterment Committee. “We’re going to be able to spend our summer days here in a town of 240. That doesn’t happen very often.”

The Betterment Committee has been working toward the splash pad for about five years, coming up with a plan and seeking donations to bring the project to life.

“We didn’t really even have to ask,” Steinhauser said. “People just gave, and that’s what Springview is usually all about.”

In addition to funding the construction, volunteers will also take on the responsibility of maintaining the splash pad throughout the summer.

“Our volunteer groups will clean it, and it is pretty low maintenance,” Steinhauser said.

In a time when access to public swimming facilities is shrinking, Springview is proving that even the smallest communities can come together to make a big splash.

“If you’re really hot, you can come here,” Hadley Hoover said.