Donations are coming in nicely for a privately funded splashpad that is planned for Archbold’s Ruihley Park, according to Jen Kidder with the Archbold Parks and Recreation Department.
She explained the project at the April 7 Archbold meeting, noting that while costly to build ($450,000), the splashpad will be fairly economical to maintain with an annual cost of roughly $2,000 for the chemicals and electricity to operate the pumping system while the splash pad is in operation.
Since the splashpad is a zero depth water play area, it would not be staffed while in use and would recycle the water. She explained that unlike the city pool, the splashpad could open during periods of hot weather in spring and fall — possibly from sometime in April until early October whereas the pool is only open for about three months of the year.
Although on-going operational costs for the splashpad would be paid by the village, the cost of building the project will be entirely privately-funded.
So far, about $130,000 of the $450,000 has been raised and one donor has pledged to match the next $100,000 of donations that are made. Archbold Rotary expects to make a donation to the project.
According to Kidder, if the money can be raised by mid-May, then it’s possible that it could be completed in time for an August opening. Otherwise, she said that it will be 2022.
She added that the public will be able to use the splashpad at no cost. More information about the project can be found online at www.archbold.com/ruihley-park-splash-pad/