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Youngstown will unveil its first two splash pads in parks today
YOUNGSTOWN
The first two splash pads in city parks are opening today.
The pads, which shoot and spray water, are at John White Park at 2300 Kimmel St. on the East Side and Homestead Park at 829 Dewey Ave. on the South Side.
“They will be great additions to the parks,” said Robert Burke, the city’s park and recreation director. “We’re excited to have them operating.”
The two splash pads cost about $140,000 in total with Vortex, a company from Williamston, Mich., providing and installing the materials.
Also, the city received a $35,000 grant from the Hine Memorial Fund, which is overseen by the Youngstown Foundation. That money went toward building sidewalks near the location compliant with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, electrical and plumbing work.
“There’s no standing water, so kids in wheelchairs can go right into the water,” Burke said.
Hine provides money for therapeutic services and projects for children with medically diagnosed disabilities in Youngstown.
The splash pad projects finished in November 2015 and will be turned on today. A ribbon-cutting ceremony at John White will take place at 2 p.m. with the Homestead ceremony an hour later, Burke said.
After today, the pads can be used daily until around Labor Day from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
There is a button on the center of the splash pads that sprays water for four minutes when it’s pushed, Burke said. The button needs to be pushed every four minutes for the pads to work, he said.
Also today, city council will consider legislation to approve spending $99,843 for improvements to Crandall Park at 400 Redondo Road on the North Side. The work includes rehabilitating the park’s indoor multipurpose building and its pavilion as well as to build a trail.
The city received an $83,843 grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, with the city paying $16,000.