By RealWV Staff
After eighteen months of planning and preparation, the Ronceverte Splash Pad is scheduled to open on May 26 with a 1pm ribbon cutting on the Island Park.
It will be open 9am-7pm daily during the summer free of charge to users. Rules are posted at the site to encourage safety for children and proper operation of the water pump system.
The splash pad was made possible through a $75,000 economic development grant secured by former Senator Stephen Baldwin as well as additional funds provided directly from the City of Ronceverte.
“Special thanks Steve Williams who has received the necessary training so that he can operate the splash pad, and make sure that we’re offering a secure, safe environment for all of our kids,” says Mayor Deena Pack adds.
There was an incident last week at the newly-completed splash pad, where mud was thrown over the fence into the splash pad.
“In order to keep mud from going into the system, we had to immediately get two staff members to remove it from the pad,” says City Administrator Pam Mentz. “We ask the citizens to please help us keep the splash pad in good condition and watch out for this kind of vandalism.”
City officials hope local residents will take pride in this new outdoor recreation feature, allowing it to remain in operation and entertain children this summer. Ronceverte is in the midst of a larger restoration of the Island Park including updated playground equipment, amphitheater upgrades, a new mini golf course, and more. The splash pad represents the first phase in this new development.
Water features for children of all ages were incorporated in the design, such as buckets that dump water overhead, water cannons with user controls, and low-to-the ground spray features for small children.
The splash pad also utilizes a water regeneration system. It removes bacteria or contaminants before recycling water back through the water features. Water quality is checked three times per day, every day and features are cleaned daily.
The public is invited to the official ribbon-cutting on May 26 at 1pm on the Island Park. Bring your swimsuit!
