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Rotary Club seeks $403,000 to complete all-abilities water-play phase after Phase 1 near completion
Summary
Cedar City Rotary Club presented plans for Phase 2 of a water-play park that leaders say is a $1.2 million project overall and requested $403,000 toward roughly $800,000 Phase 2; presenters said $200,000 was approved from the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation and that Phase 1 used about $900,000 in grants and donations.
The Cedar City Rotary Club asked the RAP-tax committee for $403,000 toward Phase 2 of an all-abilities water-play project that Rotary leaders described as part of a broader $1.2 million effort to add water play and accessible playground elements to Park Discovery.
Rotary representatives said Phase 1 (largely complete) used nearly $900,000 in grants and donations and that in-kind labor and donated profit exceeded $300,000. “We've spent almost all of it,” a Rotary representative said, and the club reported one recent approval of $200,000 from the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation for Phase 2.
Scope and rationale: Rotary described Phase 2 as an all-abilities playground area with poured-in-place surfacing to meet ADA standards, a variety of swings, a quiet pod for autistic children, and themed elements reflecting local water heritage. Presenters said previous grant work was delayed by COVID and contractor availability and that equipment removed from a hilltop was replaced with newly purchased equipment because the old items were nearing the end of their usable life and insurers would not cover them if relocated.
Funding context and questions: The Rotary presenter said the club had used roughly $404,162 in prior savings on Phase 1. Committee members asked what would happen if the committee provided only partial funding. City staff and Rotary representatives said major elements (including bolted equipment and poured-in-place surfacing) would need to be completed as a full phase rather than piecemeal; one staff member said the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation grant could likely be executed across two years.
Operational concerns: Committee members raised parking constraints at the park neighborhood, and Rotary said a future phase could expand the parking area adjacent to the senior center and remove aging play equipment to create additional stalls. Rotary leaders said the park now attracts visitors from outside the city and that the new features are being used by people of varying abilities.
Next steps: The Rotary representative asked the committee to consider the $403,000 request before the committee’s funding deadline; committee members requested clarified budget documentation for submission.
