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Park board says splash pad grant likely; city must budget $350,000 match
Summary
Board members said a state-funded splash pad at Blacktop Park appears likely after RCO scoring and legislative approval; the project would bring a $500,000 award but requires a $350,000 city match and raised resident concerns about possible soil contamination at the site.
The Benton City Park Board on June 18 discussed what the chair described as a nearly-approved grant to build a splash pad at the Blacktop Park on the town's north side.
“We're feeling 95% confident that we're gonna get the grant to have a splash pad put in,” the Chair said, adding the anticipated award is $500,000 and the city would need to provide a $350,000 local match.
Board materials and the Chair's remarks said the project cleared the state legislative budget and scored well with the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), but still requires final RCO board approval; the Chair estimated an official notice of award as early as July and a construction timeline of about a year following award, with preliminary engineering and bid work occurring this year.
Residents and the historical society urged due diligence on site conditions. Diane, president of the Benton City Historical Society, told the board she had seen drums and other historic debris on the former junkyard parcel and urged soil testing. “I was thinking it would be prudent to look for soil samples,” she said.
The Chair said staff will pull developer records and research historic site work and will investigate whether soil sampling is warranted. The board also noted the splash pad funding package includes restroom facilities, picnic shelter, picnic tables and a parking lot as part of the grant scope.
The board did not take a formal vote on the project at the meeting; members discussed pursuing the RCO award and preparing the city match if the grant is finalized.
Next steps: the chair said staff will seek the award notice in July, advance design and bidding if awarded, and report back to the board on any soil-sampling findings or required remediation.
