Ferndale’s New Splashpad Now Officially Open
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Aug. 2, 2022)
Ferndale, MI – The long-awaited Splash Pad at Ferndale’s Martin Road Park is now open and ready for kids and adults to enjoy! The City of Ferndale held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening celebration on July 16, but the need for a replacement part kept the park from opening to the public until today.
The splash pad will operate from 10am to 8pm, with buttons along the edge of the splash pad turning the water on with a timer attached so as not to waste. According to the City’s website, “This splash pad operates via a recirculating system—similar to a pool—where the water is filtered and treated with chlorine and recirculated, as opposed to a second option where fresh water would be directly drained into the water main/sewer after use. It’s estimated there could be 40-50,000 gallons per year using the recirculating system of the splash pad, as opposed to 300,000-500,000 gallons using a freshwater system, which saves a tremendous amount of water and around $80,000 in cost savings.”
Some residents have been concerned with the water usage given the increasing cost of water, which the City also addresses on their website, stating “The water/sewer rate increase is not due to the building/operating the splash pad. Unfortunately, the two items were announced back-to-back, and we understand that may have been confusing. The splash pad is a City facility and operates as such. The water/sewer rate increase is due to significant infrastructure improvements, in the form of mass water meter replacement, lead line replacement, water/sewer main maintenance/replacement.” More information on water system costs, click here.
Parks and Recreation Director LeReina Wheeler was among the leaders there to cut the ribbon, thanking the crowd for their input in deciding what features would go in the parks as the community is seeing improvements across the system. The splashpad was a frequent request in public surveys, and new parks amenities are funded by a bond voted on in 2015, as well as various grants. It was part of the City’s Master Plan, released in 2017, though some project had been delayed due to the pandemic.
“This is something residents have been asking for,” said Mayor Melanie Piana, who was also at the ribbon-cutting. In addition to the splash pad at Martin Road Park, the City also recently added fitness equipment and a pathway in Harding Park, and in 2019 celebrated the opening of the Ferndale Skate Park.
Families enjoyed the myriad of items in the splashpad, including the large wheel that fills with water and flows down over visitor’s heads. There are also water guns that swivel and shoot out streams of water, and smaller features for the smaller children. There are rules posted at the splashpad, as well as a phone for emergencies.
The most up to date information on the splash pad, including rules and hours, can be found on the City of Ferndale website.
