WSSRA members waiting at the bottom of the water slide as the duck slides down at the annual Splish Splash Summer Bash event held at the Forest Park Aquatic Center on July 18, 2026. Credit: Emma Bradford

West Suburban Special Recreation Association (WSSRA) hosted its annual Splish Splash Summer Bash on July 18 at the Forest Park Aquatic Center. 

Taking place from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., the evening was filled with fun, swimming and a Wacky Quacky Duck Splash, where hundreds of rubber ducks race down the water slide for prizes. 

The event sign for the annual Splish Splash Summer Bash event held at the Forest Park Aquatic Center on July 18, 2026. Credit: Emma Bradford
Two buckets filled with rubber ducks sitting ready to be taken to the top of the water slide for the first heat of the event at the annual Splish Splash Summer Bash event held at the Forest Park Aquatic Center on July 18, 2026. Credit: Emma Bradford

Admission to the event was $5, and participants could adopt a duck for $2 each. Sponsors included Kassam Enterprises Inc., the Park District of Forest Park and ASH Candles. 

  • WSSRA’s duck mascot standing at the top of a water slide posing for a picture behind an event banner at the annual Splish Splash Summer Bash event held at the Forest Park Aquatic Center on July 18, 2026. Credit: Emma Bradford
  • A bucket filled with ducks sitting in the sun as WSSRA members file into the pool at the annual Splish Splash Summer Bash event held at the Forest Park Aquatic Center on July 18, 2026. Credit: Emma Bradford
  • The duck mascot dancing to the music played by the DJ while they greet WSSRA members at the annual Splish Splash Summer Bash event held at the Forest Park Aquatic Center on July 18, 2026. Credit: Emma Bradford
  • Two WSSRA staff members carying the buckets filled with rubber ducks to the water slide so they can be raced down the slide at the annual Splish Splash Summer Bash event held at the Forest Park Aquatic Center on July 18, 2026. Credit: Emma Bradford
  • Tons of rubber ducks floating in the pool as WSSRA members scramble to collect them all at the annual Splish Splash Summer Bash event held at the Forest Park Aquatic Center on July 18, 2026. Credit: Emma Bradford
  • A kid who is helping collect all of the ducks places some on the side of the pool at the annual Splish Splash Summer Bash event held at the Forest Park Aquatic Center on July 18, 2026. Credit: Emma Bradford
  • WSSRA kids helping put away the ducks that traveled to the bottom of the water slide at the annual Splish Splash Summer Bash event held at the Forest Park Aquatic Center on July 18, 2026. Credit: Emma Bradford

Proceeds from the duck races will go to WSSRA’s scholarship program, which supports people with disabilities living in the western suburbs. 

First-place won $250, second-place $100, and the third, fourth and fifth-place winners received prize baskets donated by Whole Foods Market of River Forest. 

WSSRA Marketing Manager Nicole Walsh writing down the last name attatched to the winning numbers at the annual Splish Splash Summer Bash event held at the Forest Park Aquatic Center on July 18, 2026. Credit: Emma Bradford
The winning ducks of the final heat positioned beside the leaderboard at the annual Splish Splash Summer Bash event held at the Forest Park Aquatic Center on July 18, 2026. Credit: Emma Bradford
The top five winning ducks on their way over to be marked on the leaderboard at the annual Splish Splash Summer Bash event held at the Forest Park Aquatic Center on July 18, 2026. Credit: Emma Bradford

Emma Bradford is an intern for NEWSWELL CHICAGO through Report for America’s Local News Internship Program.