Harpers Ferry Splash Pad will officially open to the public this Saturday with Grand Opening


Grand Opening scheduled for this Saturday ... The Harpers Ferry Splash Pad pictured above will be officially opened to the public at a Grand Opening event scheduled for this Saturday, June 1 at the splash pad location near the Ethel Robinson Meehan Community Center and Dolores Tillinghast Memorial Library. Saturday’s event is scheduled from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and will include a ribbon cutting ceremony, along with door prizes, DJ music, lunch and ice cream. Submitted photo.

An idea thought of more than four years ago has finally come to a splashing success - literally. After years of planning, fundraising and following guidelines set forth by various agencies involved, the Harpers Ferry Splash Pad is scheduled to officially open to the general public this Saturday, June 1 during a Grand Opening event planned at the new facility.

Located in the small park area next to the Ethel Robinson Meehan Community Center and Dolores Tillinghast Memorial Library, the new splash pad has a variety of water-based attractions for all ages to enjoy, including some larger water-splashing fixtures for older kids and some smaller pieces for those of toddler age to interact with. Lindsey Deason of the Harpers Ferry Splash Pad Committee said the most popular piece of the splash pad during its initial test runs prior to being open to the public seems to be the dump buckets that fill with water until reaching a tipping point and spilling down on the waiting youngsters below.

Although the Splash Pad Committee was the main organizing group behind the overall project, Deason says it would not have been possible without the backing of the Harpers Ferry Boosters and the support of the Harpers Ferry and greater surrounding community pulling together, making this a true community project. Deason explained that funding sources for the project have been secured through grants from various foundations and organizations, as well as through members of the community taking part in bake sales, working the concession stand at the Harpers Ferry ball diamond and selling t-shirts, along with community members both near and far offering their own monetary donations to the project. Donations of labor, materials and time by contractors and other volunteers involved with the project also helped significantly in overall cost savings.

Deason said a donor board is being planned for placement near the splash pad to recognize those donating at a certain level to help fund the project. There has also already been a gazebo shelter constructed next to the splash pad that has picnic tables for families or groups to use for a picnic-type outing, with bench seating also available around the splash pad and the existing playground also still in place near the new attraction to offer a full day of family fun. New bathroom and changing facilities have also been constructed near the splash pad area for the convenience of those using the new facility.

The splash pad is operational through the push of a button that activates the water features for a period of five continuous minutes before the button will need to be pushed again. That feature prevents the facility from running continuously and wasting excess water. Deason said the initial plan is to have the splash pad programmed to be operational from 10 a.m. until approximately 8 or 9 p.m. each day throughout the summer months.

The water used by the facility comes from its own well source that was part of the overall planning and construction process. There are also several drain sources located throughout the splash pad to help eliminate any standing water that may be a safety risk for younger children.

The Grand Opening event planned for this Saturday is scheduled to be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held to officially open the splash pad and there will be door prizes and DJ music, along with lunch and ice cream served.