Rudd’s new splash pad is splashing away

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

With nearly two years in the design, fundraising and finally construction, the Rudd Imagination Splash Station is now open, and the adjoining playground should be installed in the near future.

The splash pad will be available from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. daily, and pretty much runs itself, said Casey Wood, a splash pad committee member who has been involved from the beginning. Pressing a button on a central pole in the pad begins the water flowing for a timed period, and can be pressed again as often as desired during open hours.

The system is also on another timer, and outside of the open hours it won’t operate, Wood said. The water features that can be aimed also have limits to prevent water from being sprayed off the pad.

About the only significant maintenance required should be draining the system and getting it ready for the freezing temperatures of winter in the fall, then setting it up to run again in the spring, she said.

Along with welcoming a dozen or so kids and assorted other family members to the opening Tuesday morning, Wood also went through a list of rules, which are now posted on a nearby pole.

They include the hours of operation and how to start the water flowing, along with such other admonitions as keeping bikes, rollerblades, skateboards, scooters and other wheeled devices off the pad, because of the potential harm they can do to the surface.

There are also prohibitions against littering, glass containers, swearing and inappropriate language, bullying and vandalism. Splash pad users are also advised to keep an eye out for severe weather.

Playground equipment has been ordered and should be arriving soon, Wood said. When it is installed and the rubber ground cover is added the splash pad will have to be closed for a day so kids aren’t hurt by the heavy equipment that will be needed for the installation.

Also included in the overall plans for the site are a shelter house with restrooms. Concrete is already in place for the base for the playground and for the shelter house, and the hope is that everything will be done in time for an official grand opening ceremony next spring, Wood said.