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Leadership class seeks city support to fund splash pad at former police department site
Summary
A community leadership class proposed a $1.7 million splash pad and pavilion at the former police department location, asking the commission for permission to prepare fundraising and marketing materials; the commission unanimously gave its support for the group to proceed.
Members of the leadership class presented a proposal to the City of Franklin City Commission to develop a splash pad, restroom pavilion and supporting green space at the former police department site as a graduation project.
Ryan Horshi (presenter for the class) and other students described a conceptual site plan with a splash pad, a pavilion containing restrooms and support spaces, concrete and green areas, and on-site parking. The class provided a preliminary budget estimate the group described as a full-scale vision: approximately $1,700,000 total, broken into line items such as earthwork ($50,000), asphalt ($25,000), and allowances for overhead and profit. Horshi said the group is open to downscaling items and emphasized that the figures were early estimates from a general-contractor quote.
Presenters said the splash pad would use fresh, non‑recirculated water on a timer rather than a continuously recirculating system, and that operation and water/sewer implications would need further study. The group also said they have letters of community support from local businesses and organizations and would lead fundraising and grant research.
Commissioners questioned site selection, parking, operational costs and safety. Several commissioners suggested alternative sites within existing park space might reduce construction costs and improve safety and visibility; presenters said they were open to exploring those options but were requesting permission to develop marketing and fundraising materials first.
Commissioner discussion concluded with a motion to allow the leadership group to prepare marketing and fundraising materials and to proceed with outreach; the motion passed unanimously. Several commissioners encouraged downtown placement for greater accessibility but did not bind the project to one site. The group said fundraising is expected to take at least a year and that they would return with materials for commission approval before soliciting donations.
