Splash park update warms Park Board members' hearts

With temperatures hovering in the single digits outside and piles of snow just about everywhere, the Greencastle Board of Park Commissioners warmly toasted good news about the proposed splash park project Thursday night.

Fresh from the cold and still wearing a Purdue toboggan cap over her blonde hair, Greencastle Civic League President and Splash Park Project Co-Chairman Suzanne Masten stood at the City Hall podium to share the news and a big, warm smile.

"Two years ago (when the Civic League initiated its community project) did you ever think I would stand up here and say, 'We're going to start?' We're going to have a (splash) park this summer.

"Of course, I say that weather pending," she added, quickly assigning that status to site-preparation efforts expected to begin next week.

Work is due to start with above-ground demolition in the baby pool area of the Greencastle Aquatic Center in Robe-Ann Park.

Park Director Rod Weinschenk was equally enthused about the idea the project is moving forward toward a warm-weather conclusion.

"What I think is neat," Weinschenk offered, "is we have a foot of snow outside, and we're talking about the splash park."

Board member Tim Trigg agreed.

"Kind of makes you feel all warm inside, doesn't it?" he smiled.

Masten continued her update by noting that "with perfect conditions," project engineers Hannum Wagle and Cline believe the splash park can be completed within 30 days.

"So I'm still pushing for Memorial Day," she said of the pool's traditional season-opening date.

Nonetheless, Weinschenk said the Park Department still plans to target July 4, just to play it safe.

Regardless, the goal is for the splash park to be open this summer with free admission for local children after more than two years of planning and coordinating project efforts.

Meanwhile, fundraising remains ongoing, Masten said, with talks under way with a number of local contractors to potentially provide in-kind services on creation of the splash park.

"I'm humbled by the kindness of everyone who wants to be a part of this project," Masten told the board.

"It puts a big smile on my face to know we've come this far," she added. "I'm super excited."

A splash park typically offers water sprayed, gushed, dumped and poured for enjoyment, much like a 21st-century version of the old days of running through the sprinkler at home. The facility will have no standing water, thus avoiding any need for lifeguards therein.

Back in December, the Civic League announced that Nick and Rob York of York Automotive contributed the largest single local donation to the splash park project, and in return received naming rights for the Bob York Memorial Splash Park.

That undisclosed amount donated by the Yorks has put the Civic League within striking distance of its two fundraising goals -- $150,000 to match the Land & Water Conservation grant received by the city and $12,000 to start an endowment designed to fund future maintenance and repair of the splash park facility.

"While we are finalizing our fundraising efforts with a focus on contractors who can provide in-kind donations in labor and/or materials," Masten said, "we are also continuing to seek cash donations toward the splash park and for the endowment fund which has been established at the Putnam County Community Foundation. "

Anyone interested in donating to the project may contact any Greencastle Civic League member, specifically splash park co-chairs Suzanne Masten at suzannemasten@gmail.com (653-5167) or Emily Knuth at eknuth@further.com (720-5352).