De Soto’s new splash pad could open on Memorial Day weekend, De Soto City Manager Todd Melkus said Tuesday.
He said the splash pad, located next to the all-inclusive playground at the De Soto Athletic Complex off Vineland School Road, was nearly complete and just needed a few railings for the step areas and waterfalls.
“We are hoping for it to be open on Memorial Day weekend, but that is dependent on when the railings can get installed,” he said.
Like the all-inclusive playground beside it, the splash pad will be open from dusk to dawn and there is no cost to use it.
“The main benefit of these waterplay areas is that lifeguards are not required and until someone activates the system, the geysers stay dormant,” Melkus said.
The De Soto City Council agreed in March 2022 to pay Brookside Contracting in the De Soto area $567,961 to build a waterplay area, and at the time city leaders hoped the project would be finished last summer. However, supply issues delayed the work, Melkus said.
“There were major delays on some of the mechanical parts of the system involving the recirculation system, etc.,” Melkus said. “Obviously a lot of that has to be put in the ground first; therefore it delayed a lot of the other aspects of the build and pushed it into the winter months, which again delayed it even further until the weather broke earlier this year.”
The waterplay area includes the splash pad with a water geyser and related features, all of which adhere to Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
“This is not an out-of-the-box splash pad that is just a large concrete pad with water geysers in it,” Melkus said a year ago. “This will include a natural looking array of water features, including boulders, geysers, small streams, topography changes, stone steps, etc. This will allow children of all ages and abilities to enjoy the natural aspects of the waterplay area which will have ADA access and sensory items, as well.”
Melkus has said the city will pay for the facility with revenue from a 1/2-cent park and stormwater sales tax voters approved in 2018.
Work has also begun nearby to build a multipurpose field next to the Athletic Complex.
In December, the council awarded a $3,158,952 contract to ATG Sports in Festus to build the field.
“Work is underway and the goal for completion is still set for the fall, pending any unforeseen circumstances,” Melkus said.
He said the field can be used for baseball, softball and soccer. The project includes LED lighting, scoreboards, parking areas, spectator seating, dugouts and other related work.
“No other city in this area has any field like this that can be utilized by so many people,” he said.
The project also will include a connection from the walking trail between De Soto High School and Vineland Elementary School to a 10-foot concrete walkway around the entire multipurpose field complex. The property is owned by the De Soto School District, which is leasing it to the city at no cost.