Robe-Ann Park addition opens with a splash

Tuesday, August 5, 2014
After members of the York family, children from Greencastle and Civic League representatives cut the ceremonial ribbon on the Bob York Memorial Splash Park Monday, dozens of youngsters frolick beneath elements of the new free attraction at the Greencastle Aquatics Center at Robe-Ann Park.
After members of the York family, children from Greencastle and Civic League representatives cut the ceremonial ribbon on the Bob York Memorial Splash Park Monday, dozens of youngsters frolick beneath elements of the new free attraction at the Greencastle Aquatics Center at Robe-Ann Park.

With emcee James "Figgy" Hardwick spinning kid-friendly tunes like "Splish Splash," "The Macarena," a slew of Beach Boys songs and every water-related tune this side of the theme from "Jaws," opening night at the Bob York Memorial Splash Park took on a festive mood Monday at Robe-Ann Park.

And why not, the children of Greencastle and Putnam County -- not to mention the women of the Greencastle Civic League -- had waited three years for the moment the splash pad project would come to fruition.

And when it did and the water started spraying and cascading, there were not only squeals of delight but tears of joy and the emotion of accomplishment.

Dozens of local children frolicked in the summer mist, enjoying bubblers, dump buckets and waterfalls in cooling themselves off on a humid, 84-degree evening.

The significance of seeing the splash park spring to life certainly wasn't lost on the Civic League project's co-chairmen, Emily Knuth and Suzanne Masten, who first mentioned the idea publicly at a Greencastle Park Board meeting late in 2011. True to their word even then, the splash park will be free of admission charge.

Knuth and Masten, new Civic League President Tanis Monday told the crowd, "have eaten, breathed and slept this project the last three years."

The twosome readily agreed.

Masten, who like Knuth even gave birth to a child during the course of nurturing the splash park project from idea to dedication, choked up briefly in thanking her family for "putting up with us for three long years to get this done and dedicate the Bob York Splash Park to the families and children of Greencastle for years to come."

Knuth likewise thanked family, friends and the many project donors.

"This started as an idea and became a dream of our organization," Knuth said in brief comments before the York family joined several city youngsters in cutting a ceremonial ribbon to open the splash park and turn on the water and the fun.

The current Civic League group, Knuth said, was inspired by the founders of the organization and their desire "to make Greencastle a better place to live," as well as those who spurred along the Emerald Palace project that stands at the opposite end of the park.

The new splash park, Knuth stressed, serves as testimony that "great things are happening in Greencastle."

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