Century Implements Reservation Fee For Splash Pad Pavilion

May 17, 2017

Due to the popularity of the Century splash pad, the town has implemented a reservation fee for a neighboring pavilion at Showalter Park.

Since the splash pad opened earlier this year, many more people are using the pavilion for birthday parties and other events, Mayor Henry Hawkins said. With no reservation policy in place, there have been conflicts between groups wanting to use the pavilion, the mayor said, including a disagreement that led to the involvement of law enforcement.

Now, the town will reserve the pavilion for $25 per hour, with a two hour minimum. For information on reservations, contact town hall at (850) 256-3208.

“If there is no reservation for a particular time, it is first come first served,” Hawkins said.

The actual splash pad is open to all and cannot be reserved.

NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

9 Responses to “Century Implements Reservation Fee For Splash Pad Pavilion”

  1. Resident on May 17th, 2017 3:10 pm

    Well to me it sounds like a fine solution to conflict resolution. Another positive for Mayor Hawkins in my mind. If some one goes to town hall, reserves it and gets it in writing then if some one is there they are to honor it and move. If some one wants to take a chance and show up that is also their choice. Come on people act civilized and polite, especially around children.

    I am sure people are coming in from outlying areas and I want you to know, the citizens of Century are paying for this service via our tax dollars and you are obliged to Respect that and our town. If the town can recoup some of the money for water, fine by me. I was not a fan of the splash pad actually and the garden hose idea or a place on the river or creek better suited my idea for public recreation spaces but here it is.

    These are a few things I learned (in Kindergarten):

    1. Share everything.
    2. Play fair.
    3. Don’t hit people.
    4. Put things back where you found them.
    5. CLEAN UP YOUR OWN MESS.
    6. Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
    7. Say you’re SORRY when you HURT somebody.
    8. Wash your hands before you eat.
    9. Flush.
    10. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
    11. Live a balanced life – learn some and drink some and draw some and paint some and sing and dance and play and work everyday some.
    12. Take a nap every afternoon.
    13. When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.

    ― Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

  2. Stacey on May 17th, 2017 2:49 pm

    To Concerned, the splash pad it self is not limited to birthday partys only, last sentence states pad is open to all and can not be reserved

  3. anne, 1of2 on May 17th, 2017 11:58 am

    So throw some blankets under a tree and everyone bring a lawn chair! Who has to have a pavilion?

  4. Tina Freeman on May 17th, 2017 10:31 am

    Sounds like the Israelites when they kept complaing to Moses! Why cant we all just get along and love one another!!!

  5. sam on May 17th, 2017 9:52 am

    thought the pad was a great idea. still do. i had some reservations about the use by elements in our fair city that would come in and ruin the site for the kids. seems like the kids always get run over by adults that can’t behave.

  6. Concerned on May 17th, 2017 7:02 am

    Thankful there is a Splash Park for the young people of Century. In the past we have driven to Bay Minette for our grandson to splash. Maybe the Town of Century could call the Town of Bay Minette and see how they handle the pavilion. They as well do not limit the Splash Park to just birthday parties, but there has never been a conflict in our presence. The county has a fee at the Travis Nelson Park Pavilion if it is reserved Town of Century could check with the county to see what their charges are.

  7. chris on May 17th, 2017 6:19 am

    Much like the new bingo establishment, nobody in city government is forcing these people to pay a reservation fee. Thus the term “free market.” How citizens spend their money is their choice. If the pavillion fee is too high, the problem should fix itself.

  8. RASHEED jACKSON on May 17th, 2017 5:52 am

    Cash to splash sounds like a good idea but what will stop an individual or group of individuals from crashing your splashing? Sounds like another headache for the Mayor and Town Council to deal with. It would have been cheaper and lot less problems to have just bought everyone in town a sprinkler hose.

  9. Lindsay Rector on May 17th, 2017 5:10 am

    That’s seems a little high especially compared to other places. A $50 minimum, when most people struggling to but food or pay rent. People have birthdays at the park because it’s cheap. I mean stone lake which had bathrooms and AC was only $30 a day the last time I used it