City to open new splash pad

The city of Carrollton is set to open up its new splash park that will not only be fun for children and families, but will also be economically friendly to the city.

W. J. Thomas Park used to be home to a pool, but after years of limited use by residents, the city decided to make a change. Scott Whitaker, director of parks and recreation for the city, said he thinks the new 4,000-square-foot splash pad will be more beneficial to the city and its residents.

"We are very excited. This is a great setting to have a splash pad; it is close to all the playing fields, and there is a park behind and benches all around it," he said. "The city feels this will be a great amenity for the community."

A splash pad is a flat area that allows anyone to play in the water without having any standing water. This removes the need for lifeguards and will make its use free of charge to residents.

"This is very unique; we do not have anything like this in Carrollton and we hope the community will embrace it," Whitaker said. "We have a lot of great features on the pad that I think people will really enjoy."

Aside from shooting water from various deck jets on the splash pad, there are water cannons that will spray water, a palm tree that has coconuts that will fill up with water and a piano with sensors that will cause water to shoot out of pipes that correspond with certain keys.

Whitaker said there will also be a fire hydrant that will serve as a sensor.

"When nobody is using the pad the water will turn off. However, when someone does come on to the pad the sensor on the fire hydrant will see that and the water will begin to flow," he said. "It is a way to conserve water and help keep cost down."

The total cost of the project was $585,000 but will save the city around $40,000 in per year in water usage. The water at the park will flow down to a drain at the end of the splash pad where the water is then filtered and sent back out. According to the city, most of the pump and filtration equipment installed during a 2007 renovation were reused with various upgrades specific to the new features and enhanced sanitation elements.

Whitaker said the city is making the final touches and testing the entire system this week in preparation for the grand opening on Saturday. The city has been lobbying for this for the past few years in regards to cutting the budget and saving cost. Mayor Matthew Marchant feels that this splash pad will benefit everyone.

"It will be cheaper for the city and will be able to stay open longer during the summer months," Marchant said. "I think it is a win-win for everybody."

The grand opening for the splash pad is 10 a.m. Saturday. Marchant, along with other city council members, will be on hand to see the first families splashing around. After the grand opening there will be snacks and games held from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

"We invite everyone to come out and have some fun this weekend," Whitaker said. "There are a lot of really neat features that I think both kids and adults will enjoy."

For information, call 972-466-3080.

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