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Milton City Council to hear splash park plans

MILTON — The Milton City Council on Monday will hear proposals from two design firms on plans for a possible splash park at South Goodrich Park.

The proposals will come at a joint meeting of the city council, the community development authority and the Goodrich Square Steering Committee.

The council and the development authority could decide as early as Monday whether to choose one of the firms for a possible splash park project, and the groups also could authorize the city to move forward with a feasibility study, City Administrator Jerry Schuetz said.

If the council and the community development authority decide to move forward with a study Monday, they would put plans in motion for the estimated $250,000 to $300,000 project.

“The first phase would be to learn what is the city’s capacity to do a project of this scope financially, in terms of constructing and designing it and maintaining it, and also what would be the local economic impact,” Schuetz said.

The splash park would be built in South Goodrich Park, and it could involve reuse of an existing pavilion as a changing room and concession. The project would require council approval and could be paid for with a combination of tax increment financing and through private fundraising, Schuetz said.

The city has yet to seek detailed designs for a splash park, but Schuetz said the city would pursue public input on the project if plans move forward.

The city council in June authorized the city to get proposals from several splash park design firms. Schuetz said the city received proposals from six firms.

The Goodrich Square Steering Committee reviewed the proposals and called back the two firms that will give proposals Monday, Schuetz said.

The steering committee, which is working with the city on a redevelopment plan at Goodrich Park and the city’s east side commercial district, spearheaded plans earlier this year for a splash park.

It’s part of a larger plan to create a center for recreation and commerce near Goodrich Park. Other improvement plans in the Goodrich Park area include bike trails, possible renovations at the Milton Community House and streetscape work.

Schuetz has said that a splash park would encourage families and visitors to use Goodrich Park. He said it would offer a summertime amenity for less cost than a full pool.

What’s a splash park?

A splash park generally is a concrete pad with geometric features built in that spray, cascade or shoot water. Some splash parks have large, umbrella-like structures that shed water in curtains like a waterfall while others have nozzles or fountains that shoot water from the ground. Some have slides or other equipment, such as motion-activated timers. They’re geared for use by families with young to adolescent children and can be built to use recycled, treated water.

If you go

What: A joint meeting of the Milton City Council, the community development authority and the Goodrich Square Steering Committee. The groups will hear proposals from two design firms on a splash park project in South Goodrich Park.

When: 6 p.m., Monday, Aug. 8.

Where: Milton City Hall, 430 E. High St., Milton.