July 6, 2023 |
Photo – Rawlins splash pad – by Matt Copeland Bigfoot99
After eight years of feasibility studies and fundraising, the Depot Park Splash Pad will open in Rawlins on Saturday morning. The dedication ceremony is set for 11:00 a.m.
Downtown Development Authority Director Pam Thayer said the idea for a splash pad was originally proposed by a city councilmember in 2012. Thayer said the idea was kicked around until 2014. That year, Thayer said she asked the Rawlins DDA parent organization, Wyoming Downtown Development, for $7,500 to determine if Depot Park, on the corner of 4th and West Front streets, would be a good place for the water feature. Thayer said Depot Park was chosen because it already contained a water fountain.
With a suitable location for the splash pad selected, Thayer approached the governing body in 2015 to ask permission to move forward with the project. The DDA director told council members then that she wanted to raise $150,000 over the next four years.
Thayer came up short on her fundraising goal. Between 2015 and 2019, Thayer raised $120,000. The money was raised through the Passion and Pride Ball, an annual DDA fundraiser. The DDA director said COVID put a stop to public gatherings.
Thayer said when asked, residents wanted a children’s water play area for the city more than any other amenity. The DDA director said the splash pad means the city has provided the top three improvements citizens requested.
The dog park was completed in August of last year. The skate park opened the following month.
The blue splash pad is 30 feet in diameter. Thayer said the committee asked for features besides just water nozzles. They settled on “Jelly Sticks,” two pipes that shoot umbrellas of water. The company that designed the splash pad used the city’s famous red pigment to accent the splash pad.
The preexisting fountain meant Depot Park was already pretty much set up for the splash pad. Rawlins Parks and Recreation Department Director Jason Sehon said the only major infrastructure change was adding lights. Sehon said DDA had already purchased replacement light covers. The parks and rec director said he didn’t think the water feature will require any major repairs for a long time.
Sehon said parks crews will perform tests on the splash pad twice a day to ensure the water is safe to bathe in.
The opening of the splash pad comes at a time when the city’s reservoirs are flush with snow melt and spring rains. Sehon said the pad couldn’t have opened without that additional water. The parks director said if and when future water restrictions are needed, the city will consider temporarily shutting down the splash pad.
The total cost of the Depot Park Splash Pad was a little over $200,000. The Rawlins city council pledged $80,000 to the project and the remaining $120,000 was funded using donations from the community.
The splash pad dedication is Saturday, July 8th, at 11:30am. The hours of operation are Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 11am to 7pm. Thayer said the hours are subject to change, with additional hours likely to be added in the future.
