Parks board approves Teepee Park splash pad, awards professional services contract

Evansville Parks and Recreation commissioners on April 2 approved installation of a splash pad at Teepee Park and authorized staff to seek site-work quotes, and they voted to execute a separate professional-services agreement with Morley for design work.

The votes followed a presentation from Danielle, executive director, Evansville Parks and Recreation Department, who described the project as a neighborhood-driven priority enabled by 2024 bond funding. “This is one of the exciting things that I get to do. This is something that brings joy to my day,” Danielle said, describing the final design as including colored concrete and multiple ground splash features and saying the project could be completed in summer 2025.

The board approved two related items: permission to install the splash pad at Teepee Park and permission to solicit quotes for the required site work; and a separate motion to approve and execute a professional-services agreement with Morley for design and engineering services. Both motions were approved by voice vote.

Nut graf: The action implements a long‑standing neighborhood request and uses city bond funds to add a water feature the master plan identified as an underbuilt amenity. Board members and neighborhood representatives framed the project as a way to restore an element of the park that residents recalled from earlier decades.

Danielle told commissioners the park master plan did not specifically list Teepee Park as the splash‑pad site, but that the plan recommended addressing a general shortage of splash pads across the system; the Parks Department and Evansville Water and Sewer Utility partnered to identify funding and move the project forward.

During public comment, Austin Maxheimer of Community 1 said neighbors had asked for a water feature since the neighborhood revitalization work began in 2017, and he thanked the board. “Neighbors that’s been in the neighborhood for years always talk about the pool. Are they gonna bring a pool back? So I think this is a great and beautiful way to pay homage to that pool,” Maxheimer said. Eric Tillman, identified as a resident engagement specialist with Community 1, added, “On behalf of the neighborhood and Community 1, we do want to say thank you.”

Board discussion at the meeting was brief and supportive; one commissioner noted that the splash pad was part of the department’s earlier master‑plan recommendations and celebrated the project’s progress from concept to funded work. The board motion to seek quotes and the motion to approve the Morley agreement were each seconded and adopted by voice vote.

Ending: Staff will return with quotes and contract documents as required; the Parks Department expects to proceed with site work and construction with the goal of opening the splash pad in summer 2025, contingent on completing procurements and contracting.