Beaver Creek considers city splash pad

A splash pad may be coming to Beaver Creek if plans go as expected.
At their July 10 meeting, council members agreed to go forward with the possibility of building a public splash pad near the baseball fields.
They capped the project scope at $100,000.
“We’ll see where that money brings us,” said Mayor Josh Teune.
Resident Jason Rauk brought the idea to the council last fall.
At Wednesday’s meeting, Rauk researched several companies and proposed splash pad designs.
He suggested applying for grants to cover a portion of the amenities’ cost.
“They could yield some decent funds if you choose to go forward,” Rauk said.
Location of the possible splash pad would be near the city’s current shelter house, located northeast of the baseball field.
City officials visited a similar splash pad built eight years ago in Larchwood, Iowa. A water collection system keeps water usage and utility costs at a minimum, Rauk said.
The city would operate and maintain the splash pad.
“It’s a good thing for the town,” said city maintenance supervisor Travis Helgeson. “It’s not much work.”
A splash pad or splash park is a water play park with little or no standing water. Various amenities such as play areas ground nozzles or overhead pipe showers mist and/or dump water on the pad. After water is splashed on the pad, it is recollected for use through the amenities again.
The pad would be open to all ages.
City clerk Jane Blank used the city’s social media page to gauge residents’ interest in the city pursuing the construction of a splash pad.
The June 24 posting overwhelming encouraged council members to explore the idea. Population in Beaver Creek is 285 in 2017.
“We put a survey on our Facebook page and got 80 responses: 93 percent ‘yes’ and 7 percent ‘no’ to pursue a park,” she said.
The council’s next meeting is Aug. 14.