Tri-Township Park District, City Of Troy Explore Bringing Splash Pad To Town
By J.W. Campbell, Reporter
The Tri-Township Park District Commissioners said they were willing to listen to a proposition from the City of Troy that would build a splash pad in the Tri-Township Park.
Making the pitch for the splash pad at the April 10 Park Board Meeting was Troy Mayor Allen Adomite. He gave a PowerPoint presentation that he said would bring a “destination attraction” to Troy. He also said the preferred spot for the splash pad would be the Tri-Township Park.
According to Adomite, putting the proposed splash pad in the park would have a number of advantages, including it would avoid the cost of land acquisition. He said the favored spot for a splash pad would be near pavilion 10, the skateboard park and the Tri-Township Park Activity Center (formerly known as Spin City) in the spot where a basketball court now stands.
“There’s parking available nearby and it is in an existing TIF district which would help fund the project,” Adomite said.
He went on to say that additional money for the splash pad could be gained through a Metro East Park and Recreation District (MEPRD) grant.
If things developed expediently, the splash pad could be completed by 2021.
As envisioned by the design firm of Counsilman and Hunsaker, the splash pad would occupy 4,000 square feet and cost $1.2 million. In addition to the splash pad, the facility would feature a pump house and a bath house.
The splash pad would be similar to one in Edwardsville and another in Farmington, Missouri.
Adomite said the facility would not need lifeguards since the depth of water would be too little for anyone to drowned in, but he did suggest that monitors would be required.
The park board commissioners had a variety of questions about how the splash pad would be funded, what the liabilities issues might be, who would staff it and how and who would be maintain it.
“We just agreed to discuss the possibility of putting a splash pad in the park,” Commissioner George Vogt said. “There is no agreement between us and the city. Doing something like that can be complicated and must be done carefully.”
Also speaking at the meeting was Tim Greenfield of the Veteran’s Memorial Committee. He informed the board that Len Suess of Troy has been chosen to help set up a Friends of the Tri-Township Park not-for-profit foundation that will make the renovation of the Veteran’s Memorial in the park a top priority.
“The foundation would raise all the funds needed for the renovation before work on the project began,” Greenfield said.
A representative of the Lion’s Club was also present at the April park board meeting to get the commissioners approval for a one-day Harvest Festival that would take the place of the old Homecoming. As envisioned, the Harvest festival would be held on Saturday, September 28 and feature a car show, a fishing derby, a kids obstacle course and maze, along with other attractions. The commissioners gave the Lions Club approval for the event in the park.
The commissioners also heard from Tammy Abbett from Partners for Pets at the April meeting. The board gave approval to the organization to hold a Halloween event in the park on October 12. In addition to several pet-oriented activities, the event will also feature a 5K run and walk and a live band.
