Commission weighs repairs, TDC funding and master plan for Lakeside Pier Park and Splash Park

City staff told the City Commission on April 1 that Splash Park at Lakeside Pier Park needs repair and maintenance now even though a county-led master plan for the pier area is under way and construction funding is not yet available.

Parks and public-works staff described the splash-park system and playground history and said the splash features were built in 2008 with a Firdac grant. Staff said the city budget includes $70,000 this fiscal year for Splash Park renovations; staff recommended buying replacement pumps and parts now so the facility remains operational while a county master plan and a potential, longer-term redesign are worked through. "We still need to purchase the pumps, the splash features, the coronators, and some of the other internal features to kind of keep the park moving," Parks and Recreation staff said during the meeting.

Russell (city staff) told commissioners the park’s playground equipment had experienced failures and was…