ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Construction has begun on a new outdoor space where families will be able to cool off in Escanaba.
The City Recreation Department is replacing the former Webster Wading Pool with a splash pad. According to Recreation Director Kim Peterson, the project has been in the works since 2018.
“Grant funds became available in 2021 but then, of course, we had COVID,” she explained. “Then, we could not find a contractor. We had to re-bid the project and we were fortunate in the last round to have three local contractors, with the low bid being Walechka contracting.”
Crews finally broke ground Tuesday morning, removing the pool and tearing down the shelter house. The splash pad will include water features and a slip-resistant PolySplash surface.
The splash pad may not be operational this year—although Peterson is hopeful it could be for a brief period—but it is on track to be completed late this summer.
“Back in 1983, the City did take grant funds to build the shelter house—which we used to have an ice rink there—so the City has to maintain that area as a park or a public space,” Peterson said. “Taking the pool out and putting a splash park there is a perfect way to honor the grant requirements that we already have.”
Due to economic changes between the start of the project and now, the splash pad will be scaled back a bit compared to the original plan. However, Peterson says the Recreation Department will be able to add to it if funding becomes available in the future.
On April 29 and 30, the Escanaba Water Department is installing water service for the splash pad. While crews are working, the 1300 block of North 19th Street is closed to traffic.
