The weekend before Labor Day saw a heat wave hit New Ulm, with an advisory being posted by the National Weather Service Sunday from 1-7 p.m. due to the heat’s intensity. Fortunately, there were several different ways to beat the heat while still having fun.

The North Park Splash Pad saw several families bring their kids to have a fun day in the sun while the water kept them cool. Sandy Braulick brought her two granddaughters Ava and Alissa Fuchs to enjoy all the splash pad offered. Braulick said the splash pad provides a unique and fruitful opportunity for the parents and grandparents of New Ulm.

“It keeps the kids cool and entertained,” she said. “[I like being able to] spend time with my granddaughters.”

Braulick said she is glad the city of New Ulm has these amenities to keep people cool and have fun, but would rather have cooler temperatures.

Cyrus Borgerding performs a perfect ninja kick on a stream of water as he seeks to cool down from the heat wave Sunday. The North Park Splash Pad is fully independent and does not require any staff, using a button that turns the water back on for a period of time when pressed.

The New Ulm Rec Center provided several opportunities for people to stay cool indoors, both wet and dry. The pool, ninjacross course, climbing wall, and slides were all available for people to craft their own aquatic experience. Some even chose to heat up in the hot tub.

Kirk Schauland brought his family to the Rec Center pool Sunday. He said this heat wave came during back-to-back special events.

“Yesterday we went up to the Twin Cities,” he said. “We went to a trampoline park for one daughter’s birthday coming up here. We decided to take advantage and get out of the heat that way. Today we have our other daughter’s birthday by coming here and swimming in the pool here.”

Schauland said he appreciates the variety of options available to beat the heat. Kids are able to go between the different sections and explore a lot of different opportunities.

For those who wanted to stay out of the water, the indoor playground gave kids the opportunity to run, jump, and climb in a room with cold AC and plenty to do. Beth Cordenave brought her three kids Jack, Amelia and Max to blow off steam. She said the amenities offered by New Ulm have grown since she grew up there.

“They didn’t have the waterslide,” she said. “They had the pool, diving boards, and a small little workout room.”

Two amenities not offered during this heat wave were the wading pools at Washington and Lincoln parks. They had already closed for the season due to staff returning to school. With high temperatures going further and further into the year, Park and Rec director Joey Schugel said extending the open dates of these and other amenities are a possibility.

“It is something we would have to evaluate as staff with schools and activities starting. The high school and college kids usually staff these facilities; it is hard to do so when they go back to school. We do have the splash pad unstaffed and a focus on the rec center open year round. If there is a change in staffing in the future there is always a possibility to re-evaluate.”