Splash park ready to go in Cowley

A new water park in Cowley is about ready to make a splash.

Cowley Splash, located just beyond (west of) the right field fence at the Cowley Senior League Baseball Complex, is complete and working and is only awaiting the arrival of a part to open to the public. The modern splash park includes a variety of water devices designed to delight kids of all ages.

Mayor Joel Peterson said Tuesday that the splash park is ready to go and will open as soon as a switch arrives from the manufacturer that will allow the park to operate automatically. Until the new switch arrives, the park will shut off after about 45 minutes of use, he said, and must be manually re-started, requiring the system to be primed. Once the switch is in place, the water system will come on and go off automatically based on a motion sensor at the entrance.

[caption id="attachment_10018" align="alignright" width="215"] The Cowley Splash Park featuring a variety of fun water stations will open to the public as soon as a switch arrives to allow the park to operate properly. A grand opening and ribbon cutting will be held during the Cowley Pioneer Day weekend.
David Peck[/caption]

“As soon as it’s completed we’re ready for business,” Peterson said.

Cowley Splash includes 15 spouts, a flowing tulip, a crossbar and a frog with water spurting from its mouth that flow in sequence. Meanwhile, a soaker arch, dew drop, small waterslide and pouring buckets run constantly. Two water cannons will fire water with a trigger.

Peterson said the park will open as soon as the part arrives, and a grand opening and ribbon cutting featuring state officials is scheduled for Friday, July 24, at 1:30 p.m. After that date, a nominal fee will be charged to meet the requirements of the state grant that funded the project.

Crushed, decorative red rock will surround the splash park, and concrete pads for picnic tables are ready for occupation just outside the fence to the south of the park. Parents will be able to watch their kids play with their backs to the sun, Peterson noted.

Also on site are both boys and girls restrooms at either end of the mechanical building, which has been colorfully decorated with a children’s mural on the west side painted by Bobi Jo Leonhardt and Pony Munkres and a colorful reverse/negative painted carving made and placed by Munkres on the east side, as well as little boy and little girl carvings next to their respective restrooms.

The splash park will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. initially, Peterson said, with changes to be made as days grow shorter later in the summer. Parks Manager Dave Banks said the park will likely close after Labor Day but could remain open a bit longer if the weather stays hot. The park will be drained for the winter.

Peterson said there are a “handful of rules” that must be followed. Children up to 11 years old must be accompanied by an adult, for instance. The mayor noted that the park will be monitored by a video surveillance camera.

The splash park is part of the Cowley South Park Project that was funded via a $500,000 Community Enhancement Grant approved by the State Loan and Investment Board in June of 2014. The project includes lights for the senior league baseball park, which were installed this spring, the splash park west of the ballfield, a picnic area with playground equipment to the south of the splash park and a grassy hill south of the picnic area with an amphitheater setting overlooking a tee-ball/soccer field to the north and the senior league park to the east. The hill can also be used for sledding in the winter.

Peterson said the playground and picnic area is next on the construction schedule, noting that a group of mothers have organized to raise funds for the project, led by Wendy Fuller.

Ballpark work

Meanwhile, the senior league baseball field is being readied for the Class A State American Legion Tournament to be hosted by Cowley July 22-24. Sod-cutters were to arrive Wednesday to cut clean baselines and the outfield warning track, and the ballpark includes new bullpens for warming up pitchers down each fence line – home and away – with concrete abutments to contain the pitching mounds.

A new sidewalk along Fourth Street South leading to Rocky Mountain Middle/High School has been completed with Safe Routes to School funding, and Peterson said picnic tables will be placed around the concessions stand during the tournament. A temporary fence will have to be installed around the seating areas during the tournament so admission can be charged, as required for a state tournament.

During the winter a liner will be put into place to form an ice skating rink on the baseball field, Peterson said, noting that hot chocolate and snacks will be able to be served from the concessions stand.

By David Peck