More family fun is coming to Washington! The City of Washington Parks &
Recreation Department is installing a splash pad in town. A splash pad is
a recreation area with water sprays but little to no standing water. The
new pad will be located outside the Bobby Andrews Recreation Center on 7th
Street. Parks & Recreation Director, Kristi Roberson, says it will be
a welcome addition to the city’s existing recreational facilities. "Now
we have the new basketball courts [on 5th Street], the skate park, the new
mural that celebrates our Latino community, as well as the Rec center
itself. So now we’ll have a lot of opportunities for families to come out
and utilize that park area in a central location."

Roberson says the splash pad has been in the planning stages for several
years, and finally received funding for it so now the project is coming to
fruition.

She says that construction is scheduled to start July 8th, with a tentative
date for opening on August 1st. "We anticipate it possibly being open
seasonally from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but we will probably be open a bit
longer this year as we monitor usage, as long as the temperatures are warm
enough to operate."

When asked about an age range, Roberson says there is something for
everyone. "The way ours is set up, there are different sections including
a toddler section and a family section. All ages are welcome to come out
and enjoy the facility."

Roberson says at this time, everyone is invited to use the splash pad, even
those residents outside the city limits. She says the City is very
grateful to City Council for supporting the project. "It’s great that
Council supports these facilities that benefit everyone in the community."

The new splash pad will be a welcome cooling facility in these hot days of
summer and a lot of fun for kids and families alike.

For more information, call the City of Washington Parks & Recreation
Department at (252) 975-9367.