Little Falls Council approves $1.03 million splash pad project, funds shortfall to be covered by reallocations and next-year levy

The Little Falls City Council on an evening vote approved awards for a splash pad and its shade structures, accepting vendor pricing and a funding plan that uses existing park improvement funds, a reallocation from a band shell account and a planned 2026 levy repayment.

The council awarded the splash pad equipment from Landscape Structures Incorporated at $221,768 and separately approved installation at $217,442.40. Council members and staff presented the full project estimate at $1,030,210.40; the city currently has $705,350 allocated for the splash pad and plans to move an additional $215,000 from the band shell account to help cover costs. The council was told it would cover the remaining approximately $100,000 from next year’s levy, effectively allowing the park improvement fund to operate in the red short-term and to be paid back in the 2026 levy process.

Public Works Director Greg Parks said the quoted pieces were procured using Sourcewell cooperative purchasing and that other project costs (changing rooms, utilities, irrigation, contingencies and shade structures) are included in the $1,030,210.40 projection. "We do have $705,000 allocated for the splash pad currently," Parks said. He confirmed the city would use existing entitlement and federal funds where available for other park components and that some funds would be transferred temporarily from the city of Ely’s entitlement balance and repaid over the next two years.

Council members pressed staff on costs and durability. One council member questioned the $400,000 estimate for the changing house, saying, "for $400,000 that better be the Taj Mahal of changing rooms." Parks and other council members responded that public facilities are built to higher standards and that costs have risen since the project was first discussed years ago.

The council also approved three shade structures for the site at a combined $16,047.54. Parks said a local group (identified in the meeting as "the Dandelions") donated $5,700 toward one of the shade structures; the city’s approval still covers the full cost because those donations were counted within the overall splash pad budget line.

City staff described operations and inspection plans: parks and the street superintendent will manage the site; the city will pull required building and plumbing permits and have inspections performed by the city’s building official. Parks added the design plans include irrigation and an intent to reuse splash pad water to irrigate adjacent turf.

The council voted to approve the splash pad equipment, installation and shade structures. The motion to award the splash pad items was made by Mayor Zilka and seconded by Councilman Glaze; the motion passed (ayes recorded).