Baker Park is a beloved landmark and common setting in the precious memories of many Fredericktonians, and Brent and Talia Turner’s family have been no exception. Early on in their journey as parents, with two toddlers and a home in downtown Frederick, Talia says that she often walked her sons Elliott and Simon down to Baker Park or the East 3rd Street Park to enjoy some green space and fresh air. In the summer – or as soon as the weather was warm enough – Simon and Elliott were eager to enjoy another favorite pastime: playing in downtown Frederick’s fountains. Whether along Carroll Creek or at the historic 7th Street Fountain, the boys loved to play in the water and splash each other and themselves.
“It was always a joy to see them run toward the water and get so excited about it,” Talia says. “The only thing is – the water isn’t really treated for kids to play in. You worry about what might be in there – but the boys loved it so much, and I couldn’t exactly hold them back from their fun." The fountains, even as an imperfect option, provided a “middle ground” for water play without packing everything up and making a day of it at the Baker Park pool. “If you’re heading to the pool, it’s definitely best when you can spend a few hours and really make the most of it,” Talia says.
The time she and Brent spent with their sons outside was one of the most cherished parts of her life. Elliott, their oldest son (now 10), may have been the older brother, but Simon, Talia says, “was a little more adventurous. He was fearless, he had lots of energy, he was a real ball of joy. I used to love to watch the boys laugh together – they were very close, and even shared a room by choice.”
The Turners, however, found their world shattered when they lived through the worst thing parents can experience: Simon, just 22 months old, passed unexpectedly from an illness in March of 2019. “He was just starting to form sentences,” Talia says. Brent acknowledges that they found themselves members “of the club no one wants to be a part of.” Devastated, they began to pick up the pieces as they both took leaves of absence from work.
Friends, family and acquaintances, wanting to provide any assistance they could, began offering financial support. “People aren’t always sure what to do in these situations – what can you possibly say? Everyone was at a loss. We didn’t know what to do with it all, but we were determined to channel the generosity to honor Simon’s life,” Brent says. “We had the first conversation about funding a potential water play park about a month after Simon passed away.”
FrederickCountyGives.org/Funds/The-Splash-Point-At-Baker-Park-Fund
From Grief to Giving Back
“We started floating the idea for Splash PoinT with the City’s Parks and Recreation Department,” Talia says. “In hindsight, it seems surprising that we pursued the idea so soon, but it allowed us to pour our grief into something with purpose and hope.” The inspiration behind Splash PoinT (as it’s been officially named, with “S” and “T” capitalized to honor Simon Turner) came from the Turners’ desire to offer something to the community that would be unique and long-lasting, while also connecting with the family’s strong memories surrounding outdoor play and the water.
“We really arrived at this idea of building something that would allow the whole community to create special memories. A splash pad is a safe water play option that is accessible to all. There is no other option like it in Frederick County,” Talia says. As they went through the process of developing plans, they arrived at the commitment to see the splash pad happen at Baker Park. The Ausherman Family Foundation provided generous early support to shepherd the project, and the initial Baker Park plans were drawn up by landscape architects Mahan Rykiel Associates. “We explored several locations, and initially got some pushback from the City on Baker Park, but they were ultimately convinced,” Brent says. “The park is certainly the site of some of the most important memories for our family, and we really believe that it’s the project location that will best serve the city as a whole.”
While much of the historic playground equipment will remain the same, they’ve provided plans for new pathways and garden features. The Bentz Street playground, Talia notes, hasn’t changed in years. The new flowerbeds will be filled with native plantings, for easy maintenance and even educational purposes. The updates will give the space a more cheerful, modern look. They will also be providing the Department of Parks and Recreation design plans for a potential future playground update by the City. Brent adds that the water feature itself is designed to “look elegant” and complement the character of Frederick’s downtown. “It was important to us that it fit into the area
aesthetically,” he says. “It will include a light element for display at night and always be beautiful to look at.”
All Together, Now
The next step for Splash PoinT is addressing the cost. The entire splash pad and garden project will require $1.6 million in funding, and the Turners can say that they’re already about 70 percent of the way there. Having been blessed with this early support (primarily from local foundations), they’re now giving the community a chance to help make the new amenities come to life.
Leading the fundraising charge, and Splash PoinT’s chief champion, is Nancy Mackintosh. Long a proponent of seeing a splash pad come to Frederick, she feels that the Turners’ story and vision have provided the perfect opportunity to go all in. She notes that she and her husband, Rocky, “have traveled extensively and seen so many splash fountains in large and small communities across the country. The joy they bring for families and children is something I want to see for our Frederick community.” To make giving easier, the Turners have a fund for the project at the Community Foundation of Frederick County: the Splash PoinT at Baker Park Fund. Now, as part of
a nonprofit fundraising initiative, all donations made directly through the Community Foundation will be tax-deductible.
Nancy encourages community members to be part of this opportunity to enrich one of our public spaces, and looks forward to stewarding Frederick’s characteristic generosity. “We have been overjoyed by the outpouring and support from the Frederick community and beyond,” she says. “We know when Frederick sees a need, they step up to the plate and make worthwhile projects come to fruition. We hope businesses and individuals will join our current donors to make Splash PoinT at Baker Park a reality!” If fundraising continues at pace, groundbreaking on Splash PoinT could occur as early as spring 2026. The goal would be to have the feature open for the U.S.A.’s 250th anniversary. “My dream is to see children, families, and people of all ages and abilities splashing and making memories, especially during those special July 4th festivities,” Talia Turner says.
Give, Share, Get Involved
- SplashPointBakerPark.com
- Donate to the project fund at FrederickCountyGives.org/Funds/The-Splash-Point-at-Baker-Park-Fund/
- Share and interact: @splashpointbakerpark (Facebook), @splashpoint_bakerpark (Instagram)