City of Pelham Unveils New Playground and Splash Pad
In a joyous event on Saturday, May 11, children, parents, and city officials convened at the Pelham City Park to celebrate the inauguration of the city’s newest amenities – a state-of-the-art playground and splash pad. Under a cloudless sky, the day was marked with laughter, cheer, and the thrill of children making the play-place their own.
Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening
Mayor Gary Waters, accompanied by his young granddaughter, ceremoniously cut the ribbon to officiate the grand opening. As he did, the park’s state-of-the-art playground became an immediate hub of activity. Kids wasted no time in exploring the new facility, clamoring up the adventure ropes and swiftly maneuvering down the slides.
The splash pad, landscaped just beside the playground, provided immediate relief from the summer heat to delightful cheers from the families present. Complete with sprinklers, waterfalls, and aptly named “water mushrooms”, the splash pad quickly became a favorite spot for the younger attendees who happily splashed about.
A Result of Community Feedback
The approval of the Pelham community was palpable throughout the day. As Mayor Waters proudly conveyed, the project was born out of community feedback obtained through a city satisfaction survey. “This (park) is the result of you sharing your ideas with the council,” Waters stated. The residents thus felt a strong sense of involvement in the inception and completion of the project.
Details of the Project
The entire endeavor, including the construction of the playground, splash pad, new bathrooms, parking lot, and canopies, cost the city around $2 million. The playground was reported to have cost about $1.15 million, offset by a generous $250,000 grant from GameTime.
Focus on Accessibility
Another exceptional feature of the project was the city’s mission to exceed the Americans with Disability Act’s minimum accessibility requirements. Brian Cooper, Pelham’s Director of Parks and Recreation, explicitly mentioned that the city aimed to provide an environment that was as inclusive as possible to accommodate all children in Pelham. Their efforts have ensured that their playground facilities are accessible by multiple steps above the legal requirement.
Examples of accessible facilities include a merry-go-round level to the ground designed with a space for wheelchairs, a slide with a ramp surrounded by sturdy netting for children with limited mobility, and a large swing with built-in benches.
Community Impact
Pelham’s Council President Maurice Mercer expressed a deep sense of accomplishment witnessing the park’s immediate popularity. Seeing the community rally around an initiative designed for its youngest members and the smiles radiating from every corner of the park underscored the success of this project.
This new addition to the City of Pelham serves as a testament to the power of community feedback and the city’s commitment to providing accessible, inclusive spaces that cater to all residents.
