ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Escanaba families have a new way to beat the summer heat.
In 2018, the City’s Recreation Department began working to secure funding to build a splash park on North 19th Street. The chosen site was formerly home to the Webster Wading Pool, which had been in a state of disrepair for several years. The COVID-19 pandemic caused several timeline delays for the project, as well as changes in material prices.
Now, the long-awaited Webster Splash Park is finally up and running. It features eight fountains split into three zones. The fountains are activated by tapping a motion sensor.
“Each zone will stay on for 60 seconds, so you pretty much have three minutes of activity,” explained City of Escanaba Recreation Director Kim Peterson. “Once it’s done, you’ll have to hit the activation button again.”
The splash park was made possible by a DNR Trust Fund grant, the City of Escanaba, and local donors. After facing so many challenges with its development, Peterson says it is exciting to see kids enjoying the splash park at last.
“The completion of this splash park is a great addition to the area,” she said. “We don’t have one like this. Since it’s been such a long time, people are still excited about it. They finally get to use it. We just hope that people respect it. Use it for what it’s intended for so everyone can enjoy it.”
There are benches and a port-a-potty on site. Later this summer, the Recreation Department plans to install a pavilion, a bike rack, a handicap picnic table, and a small playground area with a reading bench and book library.
The Webster Splash Park is open daily from noon to 7 p.m. It is handicap accessible and intended for kids under the age of 10. Adult supervision is required. Parking is available on the side of the Webster Kindergarten Center.
For additional information about the Webster Splash Park, click here.
