ABOVE: Various configurations of splash park attractions were part of the winning bid package from Great Southern Recreation. The final design will have several changes, including placement of a treehouse with slide in the park’s center.
On Memorial Day weekend in Bartlett, a new attraction will make the best kind of splash — one that children from toddlers to teens can enjoy during those hot summer days.
Construction on the city’s long-awaited Splash Park is expected to start by the end of February.
It’s been a popular request for the past five to seven years, said David Thompson, director of parks and recreation.
At the Jan. 27 city board meeting, Bartlett approved the $196,000 bid from Great Southern Recreation to create a place where children can run through water spouts, tip buckets on each other’s heads and make a gloriously wet mess of themselves. There will be benches and shade structures around the area, too.
It will be built on the northeast corner of the Bartlett Recreation Center, and the city has not yet determined if it will be open to all comers or just to BRC members, Thompson said.
Also known as a “splash pad” or a “spray pool,” these recreation areas are regarded as ideal for safe water play as there is little standing water.
Written by Carolyn Bahm, Express editor. Contact her at (901) 433-9138 or via email to bartlett.editor@journalinc.com.
A BRC spokesman said the mayor is currently reviewing a proposal regarding operations/costs at the splash park. It seems likely there will be some fee for non-BRC members, but that is our speculation and has *not* been confirmed.
We hope to have an update on what’s proposed — as well as a tentative opening date — in next week’s paper.
Are there any updates and details about the splash park? Opening date? Admission or free? Open to public or just Rec members? Thanks
Good reminder. We are checking and will post when we have info. Thanks!
Has the splash park opened yet? Will it be open to the public?
Yes it’s open. It’s free to members of the Bartlett Rec Center, and others have to pay a fee. See details in our story: http://bartlett-express.com/2015/06/24/bartlett-families-ready-for-sloshes-giggles-at-splash-pad/
I don’t know how the Splash pool can only be for BRC members if they are not paying the bill for the pool. If the rec center is paying for the pool than that’s fine they can do whatever they choose. If Bartlett residence are paying than it should be available for everyone to enjoy.
I agree with Brenda. If Bartlett taxes pay for its construction and operation, it should be for everyone. As extremely busy working parents of two very small boys, my wife and I do not have time for a gym membership, and we would feel gratuitously cheated if we had to get one just so our boys could splash around in this park for a grand total of maybe 10-20 hours out of the whole year.