[Electronic-lan] Eastside Splash Park

[Richard Heckler]

 From city hall this AM:
"We have added it back into the budget for 2021."

Where are the tax dollars going?

Dickie Heckler
    On Monday, July 8, 2019, 9:21:22 AM CDT, daisy mae via Electronic-lan <electronic-lan at lists.ku.edu> wrote:  
 
 So glad you asked. We are so frustrated by the Parks and Rec. staff decision to postpone the Eastside splash park/water feature planned for Burroughs Creek Park at 15th and the trail. They budgeted it for 2023 even though it has been in the Burroughs Creek Trail Plan for at least 10 years; in collaboration with Brook Creek, East Law, Barker and The Woods neighborhoods.
This is not a big ask. A Splash Park is simply a flat surface with water jets squirting up from the ground and on brightly colored poles arranged at different levels for kids, teens and adults. The water squirts at random times to surprise and giggles abound. It is a refreshing place for all ages, the water is filtered and recirculated (low cost), maintenance is minimal and parks all around the world have had them for many, many years.
When I've visited these in Topeka and KC, grandparents sit in lawn chairs in the sprays, tiny kids with caretakers are gleeful (water drains immediately so a lifeguard is not required) and it is free to all.
There is NO water/cooling place in Lawrence for kids from Mass to the Industrial Park.
This is an obvious equity issue. For example, Bright Star Day Care, for the poorest little kids, takes three to five year olds on three city buses to get to the wading pool in South Park.
The neighborhood, private pool near the fairgrounds closed last year because donations and volunteers just couldn't do it anymore.
With global warming, there is and will be a bigger need for cooling places especially for lower income families/seniors.
The recent actions of the City Commission to require Parks and Rec to engage their board in decision making and the board's report emphasizing the obvious inequity issues in the Parks and Rec budget gives me some hope. Have they sold off the unpopular, $85,000 
plastic skating rink to some other community to raise funds? Have they sought private/corporate sponsorships to help with funding?
We're not asking for an "aquatic center" simply a water feature on the Eastside.
Yours in 90 degree heat, K T Walsh
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