The Jefferson City Community Park on East Dunklin Street will soon be home to the first free, outdoor splash park here in Jefferson City, Missouri. It was a joint effort of many organizations including: Jefferson City Parks and Recreation, The East Side Activity Center (also known as the Jefferson City Community Center), the Jefferson City Advocacy Group, Friends of the Jefferson City Community Park, as well as other concerned citizens and business that didn't want to see the community area die away. A $150,000 trailhead grant was provided to restore the area and Jefferson City Parks and Recreation is helping to update the area in hopes to promote togetherness and outdoor activities.

This historical black area of town was known to many as a community inside of a community during Jim Crow times. Since this was a predominately black area of town, it held the only black hair and barber shop, grocery store, daycare, school, swimming pool, parks, restaurants and bars. The splash park will be located on a portion of the Jefferson City Community Park land, leased out by the East Side Community Park. The land was originally purchased by a women's group from the local Second Baptist Church. These women worked hard in supporting and helping the black community in many times of need. The building on the land has hosted soup kitchens, teen centers, daycares, meetings, dances, church services and black officer training. Local activist, Patsy Johnson, along with other members of the community feel that placing the splash park in this area will be a great benefit to the community. It will bring "Pride, rejuvenation, and preservation to an unappreciated and underdeveloped area of town, as well as, provide a place of outdoor activity that will bring the community together in a safe and fun environment,", says Activist Johnson. This is only the beginning of the positive changes that will be happening around the Lincoln University area and the community couldn't be more excited about it!