Clarksburg council approves Thrasher Engineering contract for splash pad after weeks of debate

Council voted May 7 to approve a not-to-exceed $50,000 professional services agreement with Thrasher Engineering to advance design for a splash pad at Clarksburg City Park. The decision followed more than an hour of public comment and council discussion about grant constraints, matching ARPA funds and how the amenity would affect parking and existing field uses.

“Right now we’re at the very last step and Thrasher has said if we move forward right now, we’ll be able to have this complete by fall,” a city staffer told the council during discussion; later in the meeting council members clarified that, if delayed, the project would likely open in 2027. Council members also debated the amount and source of matching funds: staff said grant funding exceeded $300,000 and that the city would supply ARPA match dollars, but the precise ARPA balance was not available at the meeting.

Opponents raised concerns about site access and proximity to sports fields. Council member Worth said he worried about increased parking demand when games and splash-pad users coincide, while another member asked how balls from adjacent Frank Gloria Field might affect splash-pad users. Supporters urged using grant funds now to avoid losing federal funding: “We don’t give up six figures of grant funds. Let’s move forward,” one council member said. The council ultimately recorded a majority vote in favor of the Thrasher Engineering agreement.

Council asked staff to provide a clearer accounting of grant amounts, the ARPA match and contingency plans if the project exceeds its estimated budget. The approved engineering agreement covers design work to prepare the project to seek construction bids; the council did not finalize full construction funding at the May 7 meeting.