Council shelves splash-pad project amid state budget concerns; considers using funds for pool repairs

City staff updated the council on parks projects and the splash-pad concept that has been in the city's capital improvement program. Staff said JEO was selected for architectural and engineering services and that work had proceeded from November 2024 through January 2026, but that state budget developments prompted the project to be put on hold while costs and funding options are reassessed.

Parks staff reported that the last cost estimate for the splash pad was about $1.9 million and that earlier efforts had aimed to reduce that toward $1.5 million. Staff said the design work considered universal access and that was a major factor that raised the estimate. The project remains in the CIP, and staff said it can be returned to the council when funding is clearer.

Council members and staff also discussed near-term repairs and enhancements to the existing pool, which is 26 years old and will require ongoing maintenance. Staff suggested using a portion of splash-pad set-aside dollars for targeted pool improvements, noting unpredictable maintenance costs such as filter-tank replacement and lateral work that have already occurred.

Staff asked whether council preferred to hold splash-pad funds for the larger project or allow the department to use some of those funds for immediate pool features; council asked staff to bring specific options and cost estimates back to a future meeting.