Eaton County's first splash pad should be open before summer ends

GRAND LEDGE - Eaton County is getting its first public splash pad, and area residents should be able to enjoy it before the summer is over.

The 2,000-square-foot facility will offer water jets and concrete seating along the Grand River at Grand Ledge's Jaycee Park. Construction got underway in May.

The $121,531 project was paid for, in part, through a community crowdfunding campaign started late last summer that raised nearly $55,000. Those donations paved the way for two $33,333 grants, from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and mParks Foundation.

Friday, a few city employees were working at the site in the nearly 6-acre park off East River Street, where underground piping is being installed. 

Grand Ledge Mayor Thom Sowle said Monday that concrete is scheduled to be poured at the site yet this week.

"It's moving along very well," Sowlesaid. "We hope to have it done quite soon."

Grand Ledge City Administrator Adam Smith said the new splash pad should be done and open to the public "yet this summer," but that its official opening date hasn't been scheduled yet and is "weather dependent."

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"We are making continued progress utilizing discounted and donated services from local companies," Smith said Monday afternoon in an email. "The City will issue a press release when construction has been completed and the public can begin using the splash pad."

Grand Ledge is receiving discounted and donated services for the design and construction of the facility by Michigan-based companies, including Jim Bryant Excavating/Michigan Watermain Tapping, TriTerra, M. French Concrete, ENG, and Etna Supply, Smith said.

The splash pad is the first to be installed at a public park in Eaton County. Others are in place at Hawk Island Park in Lansing and at the St. Johns Community Spray Park in Clinton County.

Smith said use of the splash pad will be free to the public. Grand Ledge City Council hasn't yet determined its hours of operation, he said, but it "will most likely be open between Memorial Day and Labor Day" during the day.

Contact Reporter Rachel Greco at (517) 528-2075 or rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @GrecoatLSJ.