by Geoff Fox
Town and county officials were in Widmeyer Park last Thursday afternoon, June 6, as they officially broke ground for the long-awaited water recreation facility.
Councilmen Charles Strong, David Kerns, and Patrick Norris; Mayor Roland Lanehart, Jr.; Town Manager Mike Faith; and County Commissioners Jeff Cline and Derek Harvey were in attendance along with a few spectators.
On Friday morning, June 7, a crew from Splash Pads USA was in Widmeyer Park tearing up the grass and prepping the area for the work that will go in to creating the splash pad.
Splash Pads USA is headquartered in North Salt Lake, Utah.
Faith said the workers from Splash Pads USA would be in the park seven days a week working to get the splash pad finished.
It should take about a week or two to get the area excavated and the concrete poured, followed by 28 days for the concrete to cure. Once the concrete cures, they can put the coating on.
Faith said during that waiting period, the town would be doing the plumbing for the pad.
Right now, the goal is to have the facility complete by National Night Out – the annual community event in Widmeyer Park — on Tuesday evening, August 6.
Faith added the weather could also factor into when the splash pad is complete.
According to the project renderings, the splash pad would have a slide, which would be on the western end in line with the basketball and pickleball courts, a drop bucket with the town logo, a palm tree, hydrant, and various other attractions.
The splash pad is expected to cost $600,000.
Hancock has $200,000 in Project Open Space funding and from a $150,00 donation from the late Stanley Fulton to cover part of the project expense.
