Glad for splash pad fad
Rendering courtesy of the city of Post Falls The future splash pad at Syringa Park in Post Falls will include a three-armed feature that drops buckets of water, a mushroom maze and other elements. It will be the city’s first splash pad. More are planned.
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
POST FALLS — One of Post Falls' next park features is bound to make a splash.
The city's first spray park will be ready to rumble at Syringa Park north of Poleline Avenue next year.
"We will be working to secure excavation and concrete contractors in the coming weeks and we are aiming for construction to begin shortly after Labor Day," said Bryan Myers, Post Falls' parks manager. "The community has been voicing the need for a spray park."
Two elements on the pad will be above ground, including a fill-and-spill feature with three buckets and a mushroom maze. It also includes 13 ground-mounted spray features.
Seven of the spray features can be moved to other future park sites to change things up for visitors.
"We are planning for the future on this pad," Myers said.
The total cost for the spray park, which does not have a name yet, is $165,000.
Myers said it’s anticipated the spray park will be open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
"We will have the ability to extend those dates when the weather is favorable for this type of play," Myers said.
The spray park will be activated with the push of a button.
"This will begin a sequence of spray activity that can be customized throughout the season," he said.
The city's 2012 Parks and Recreation Master Plan listed the amenity as a high priority, meaning it should be completed in five to 10 years.
Myers said the timing of the spray park is largely a function of balancing competing recreation needs and budget priorities.
Syringa Park was chosen as the first park for a spray feature because of anticipated residential growth in that area.
"The neighborhood surrounding this park is already developed and the park and playground is active with neighbors and those walking, biking and driving to visit the site," Myers said.
The splash pad will be northeast of the existing playground.
"This area of the park can be relatively easily accessed by utilities needed for the feature and connected to other hard-surfaced pathways for individuals with disabilities to gain access to the new feature," Myers said.
Other water features in Post Falls parks are planned.
The park being constructed in the Tullamore subdivision has a spray pad included in the park design.
"We are working through the planning process for what that pad will look like and the features that will be included," Myers said.
Construction of Tullamore Park will continue throughout 2018. Splash pad construction will be next spring and summer.
A third pad is being presented to the City Council in the budget process for Beck Park on the northeast side of the city near McGuire Road.
Having interchangeable components in the parks will be a benefit to the city's maintenance department and park visitors, Myers said.
"Kids are naturally drawn to water and there is something inherently exciting about running through spraying water or waiting for a wall of water to rain down from a tipping bucket," Myers said. "We are excited that this will be an experience that the children and those escorting them to the park will get to experience in the near future."
- Meanwhile, another highly desired park amenity in Post Falls, a dog park, continues to be on the city's radar. Myers said possible locations continue to be explored after the one next to the Yoke's grocery store and Interstate 90 fell through earlier this year.
"This animal is still at large," Myers said.