The Abilene splash pad opened just a few weeks ago, but it seems people want more ways to beat the heat.

A Facebook petition to build a water park in Abilene started Saturday and already had well over 500 "likes" by Monday.

(Click here for the link to the petition on Facebook)

"I think it's a great idea. We don't have a lot here for middle aged children. And this park [the splash pad] is great for young ones, but the older ones need something to do also," said Kim Finch, a petitioner.

"It'd bring a lot of revenue to Abilene," Sean Espinoza said.

Espinoza and his family said they tried to find a water park in Abilene while visiting relatives who live in the city. He said they had to settle for the Splash Pad instead.

He is just one of many people who is rooting for the petition.

"People would kind of be forced to listen if they get enough ['likes']," he said.

"It's a good way to start, you know, get some attention towards it," Billy McBain, another supporter, said.

Abilene is the biggest city in the Big Country without a water park. To visit a water park in the Big Country, people have to travel to Brownwood, Eastland, Stephenville or Albany instead.

But no matter how high the number of "likes" climbs, one question remains:

"How are we gonna pay for it? If somebody could do it, it would be great. I know we'd love it, we'd have fun," McBain said.

KTXS spoke with Abilene City Councilman Joe Spano in July about the issue. He said the city has other expenses that are taking priority right now. But he encouraged individuals and companies to consider partnering with the city to fund a water park.

The Splash Pad is located at Nelson Park near the Abilene Zoo. It has 26 features and can accommodate up to 250 people. It is free for everyone and open until midnight. The project cost $600,000 and was funded by the Together 2011 Initiative.