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State Awards Century $50K for New Showalter Park Splash Pad
October 6, 2015
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has officially announced funding for a new splash pad in Century.
The $50,000 Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program grant to install a splash pad at Showalter Park was announced Monday. That amount will fund the installation of the watery playland, but not associated costs such was water and sewer.
At a July council meeting, Mayor Freddie McCall expressed concerns that the splash pad might cost the town too much to operate.
The splash pad that Century can afford won’t recycle water — that feature would cost the town another $50,000 plus, McCall said. The splash pad that Century can purchase with grant money will use hundreds of gallons of water in just minutes. At an August council meeting, McCall said the cost to operate the splash pad could reach an affordable average of $184 per week — calculating water and sewer expenses at the town’s cost since they operate their own water and sewer system. The splash pad will not be operational during the colder months of the year.
In August, council voted to move forward, accepting the splash pad grand and agreeing to pay the water and sewer costs.
McCall said the town will also install a restroom near the splash pad at Showalter Park, next to new playground equipment recently installed with a previous state grant.
More than $5.4 million was announced Monday for 110 recreational development projects in local communities across the state. Century’s splash pad project was the only grant recipient in Escambia County. The competitive grant program provides state funds to develop lands for public outdoor recreational use, such as building or renovating sports facilities or playgrounds.
“The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is committed to funding projects that directly benefit natural resources and local communities,” said DEP Secretary Jon Steverson. “This grant funding will support projects such as athletic fields, picnic facilities, fishing piers and playgrounds – projects that provide taxpayers additional recreational opportunities.”
Pictured: The Town of Century has been awarded a state grant to purchase this model splash pad. Courtesy images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
3 Responses to “State Awards Century $50K for New Showalter Park Splash Pad”
While you are saving up for a pool … save up for a Lawyer also because when a little child drowns you will need that money !! I think this splash pad is a waist of tax payers money an time !!
If you build it
They will come.
Go ahead & save up for a swimming pool. Kids can get under a lawn sprinkler & get the same as a splash pad, on the grass, & not hafta worry about getting skint up on concrete. Quit trying to cheap out on a concrete patch with water coming up out of it & build a pool.
And press the limit on the chlorine, I don’t want any cooties.