If all goes well, groundbreaking for Fort Lupton’s new splash pad could come as soon as the spring of 2023, and full use of the pad could come in time for the summer of 2023.
The home for the splash pad is on the south side of the recreation center on South Harrison Avenue. Aquatic supervisor Doug Cook said there were three phases to construction. One includes an 8-foot wide concrete walk, shade trees and a plaza with picnic tables.
The second phase includes a landscape bed, more shade trees, and a 6-foot wide concrete walk. The third phase includes playgrounds for primary school youngsters and those in middle school and five more shade trees.
A city survey in 2017 started the initial interest in the splash pad. COVID brought a halt to talk of the pad until late last year when City Council approved $400,000 for the capital improvement project for 2022.
“We went in for some grants from GOCO (Great Outdoors Colorado) in 2017. They weren’t awarded,” Cook said. “Now, we’ve moved in a different direction. We’re looking at more funding from GOCO. We’re also looking for donations to offset the cost of some of the amenities, like picnic benches.”
Family and individual sponsorships are available. The prices range from $250 to $500. The same opportunity exists for businesses. Donations range from $1,500 to $5,000. Included in the sponsorships are recognition on a flagstone sponsorship wall, recognition on the splash park’s web page and an announcement in the city’s 2022 summer recreation guide.
For those who can’t reach the sponsorship threshold, a $25 donation to the Every Drop Counts program. The minimum donation for city recognition on the splash park web page and the Every Drop Counts campaign in the recreation center lobby is $25. A $100 donation gets a grand opening T-shirt, too.
The pad would be a free amenity. It’s a seasonal activity, likely to be open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The city will use a recirculation system for the water “similar to pool maintenance,” Cook explained
“We’re looking at this as a destination spot for Fort Lupton residents and residents in areas like Brighton and Platteville. There’s no charge. It’s open to the public,” Cook said. “It’ll be in a multi-use area. We have soccer fields, the pavilions and a skate park.”