City officials consider turning Splashville into interactive splash pad.
- Sara Vanden Berge
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
In a special meeting of the Stephenville City Council on Sept. 16, Daron Trussell, director of the city’s Parks and Leisure Services, told council members about a possible plan to renovate Splashville into a splash pad.
He said talks about the renovation have been going on for the past year.
Trussell said the cost to run Splashville from Memorial Day to Labor Day operates at a loss of more than $400,000 annually and that ongoing maintenance of the water park would cost the city an additional $1 million.
The proposal includes transforming Splashville into an 1,800-square foot splash pad, which holds about 80 kids at a time and would require no city staff to operate the system.
A second splash pad is being considered at the Optimist-Jaycee Park.
Trussell said the concept would include features like interactive screens that allow residents to play soccer and hockey.
“It’s got a button where you can change what you’re playing,” he said.
The surrounding turf would include additional interactive features for climbing and an obstacle course and four covered pickleball courts.
“This would be something families could use year-round and it’s free,” Trussell said.
Mayor Pro Tem David Baskett said he supports the proposed renovation.
“Given the high renovation costs and ongoing staffing challenges, combined with the fact that the facility can only be open for a limited time each year, it makes more sense to focus resources on providing a better, no-cost option for the citizens of Stephenville,” Baskett told Beneath the Surface News.
The total cost to renovate Splashville and add a splash pad at Optimist-Jaycee Park is approximately $2.6 million.
