Cool it

Although children make the most use of the sprinklers early in the season, this is likely to change come the dog days of August, says Mary Hines, marketing director at the Boston Parks and Recreation Department. "It's mostly kids who take advantage, but if it's hot enough, adults do, too," she says.

Across the river, Cambridge has 20 "waterplay" parks (a map is available on the Cambridge Community Planning Division website, at ci.cambridge.ma.us/cdd/cp). Among the most frequented is the Wheeler Water Garden, near the Sherman Street entrance of Danehy Park. Recently, parents were sitting on the stone steps enclosing the water garden, while toddlers in diapers and Crocs tentatively stepped in and ran squealing from the sprinklers. Older children played tag and fetched water to cook an imaginary dinner on the steps, delegating orders about how much water to use and which ingredients to include. With the sprinkler area to herself, a girl began stopping and releasing the water stream with her toes, reveling in her newfound power. Observing the scene reminded me of my own delight at the same discovery some years before. I couldn't help but wonder how hot it would need to be not to feel foolish about stepping in myself.