Kewanee Park Board President Paula Kapacinskas called for the water to be turned on at the new splash pad in Liberty Park.
And a bunch of kids streamed into the splash pad to get soaked by a variety of water-spewing devices.
Delayed by the weather, the opening of the splash pad finally opened Thursday, and park officials said that despite Thursday’s relatively cool temperatures, there was a steady stream of kids visiting the facility throughout the day.
During a brief ceremony that preceded turning on the water, Andrew Dwyer, the park district’s executive director, said the formal opening of the splash pad was a “long-awaited affair.”
The facility has been a priority for park district officials since 2021, Dwyer said.
The bulk of the money for the splash pad, around $600,000, came from an Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Dwyer said community involvement is a key factor that DNR officials look for when considering OSLAD applications. And that involvement was present for the splash pad project.
Dwyer cited the cooperation of city officials and other community leaders as the splash pad was being developed.
He said he feels Liberty Park, which is surrounded by a large residential neighborhood, is the ideal location for the splash pad.
The splash pad is not staffed by the park department, and can be used by anyone who simply pushes a button on the site to turn on the water.
The most popular attraction was a large bucket on a pole above the users. Water pours into the bucket, and when it’s full it dumps its contents onto those below.
There is also a variety of other devices that shoot water out on people. Users can be thoroughly drenched within a couple of minutes of stepping onto the concrete surface of the splash pad.
A grand opening fundraiser at the new facility will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 26, with pork patties, hot dogs and root beer floats offered by The Kewanee Voice. The fundraiser is a partnership between the park district and the nonprofit online media outlet and proceeds will benefit The Kewanee Voice and the Jerry Nell Memorial Youth Fund.
