The Third Avenue splash pad off North Main Street is ready for children looking to get soaked and cool off in the heat.
City officials held a ribbon-cutting on the long-anticipated project on a sweltering Thursday morning.
“A splash pad represents more than just a new facility,” Mayor Alonzo Jones said at the event. “It’s a testament to our commitment to enhancing the quality of life for our residents. It’s a place where these beautiful children can play and have fun and their families can gather and their friends can meet in fostering a sense of community that is in the heart of our city.”
The space will provide joy and refreshment during the summer months, Jones added.
Children and City Council members got drenched while trying out the splash pad.
The project was completed in March, with another splash pad at Doyle Thomas Park at Green Street expected to be finished next month. The Third Avenue project came at a cost of about $1.2 million to $1.4 million, said Danville Parks and Recreation Director Bill Sgrinia.
The project broke ground in December 2022 and construction began in early 2023, but delays postponed completion of the splash pad.
A third splash pad at Ballou Park is planned, as well, with construction expected to start soon. Officials hope to open it up in the summer of 2025.
PDC Inc., based in Greensboro, North Carolina, is the contractor for the project.
The 3,800-square-foot splash pad is made of concrete with an acrylic finish on top for a non-slip surface.
The pad boasts water features including water shooting up from the deck and water-sprayers, as well.
Other amenities at the site include a small playground, spaces around it for community use, picnic tables, a parking lot and restrooms.
The splash pad is free and open to the public. It is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
It will be open until around Labor Day, Sgrinia said. “I’d like to extend my deepest gratitude to Danville Parks and Recreation staff, the Site Collaborative design team, and the dedicated community members who made this project possible,” Sgrinia said in a prepared statement.
Third Avenue Park holds a special place in the city’s history as one of the first parks and recreation centers established in Danville, Jones said during the ribbon-cutting. The original wading-splash pool, built in the 1960s for just $300, set the precedent for the splash pad Danville is now able to enjoy today, he said.
Danville Parks and Recreation has other upcoming park enhancements, including:
- Westmoreland Park: A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at the end of June to celebrate its opening.
- Riverfront Park: Expected to open by the end of this year, further expanding Danville’s green spaces.
Original Article Here (by John Crane, Danville Register & Bee)