The Bay of Naples Splash Zone in Herculaneum City Park is once again closed.
The water play area, which opened in August 2019, was closed for several months last summer due to a broken water pump. It is closed now because of “a bunch of leaks,” Herculaneum City Administrator Jim Kasten said.
“We’re trying to determine where they are,” he said. “We had a plumber there trying to figure it out with our workforce. We were hoping it was only one drain line. But now we’re finding out that the drains are all connected under there.”
Kasten said the leaks were the cause of the water pump burning out last summer, which cost the city $8,500 to replace.
Without finding the source of the leaks, opening the water play area eventually would destroy the new pump because the leaks cause the pump to run nonstop, he said.
Kasten said the city thought the leak was near the pump house and dug up a 4-by-10-foot area, through concrete and gravel, to expose the pipes, only to find the leak was not there.
“We don’t know what it even is that’s going to take to fix it. That’s the problem,” Kasten said. “Those lines are a couple of feet in the ground with gravel and concrete and a rubber surface on it. I don’t know what we’re going to do. We’re just trying to check things off that we know are not broken.”
Kasten said he hopes the city can find a way to use cameras to find the leak.
The closure of the Splash Zone is a one-two punch for the park after tornadoes earlier this year destroyed the park’s pavilion and damaged some equipment at Kade’s Playground, which also is at Herculaneum City Park, 776 Joachim Ave.
Kasten said insurance is covering the damaged playground equipment, and replacements have already been ordered.
The replacement of the pavilion will take a little longer, with the city expected to seek bids for the second time in the fall, he said.
Kasten said the city had sought bids based on a design that was donated by an engineer, but the singular bid that was submitted came in at $237,000, which was far above the $94,000 the city had the original pavilion insured for. So, the city rejected the bid and is going to redesign the pavilion and solicit new bids based on the new design.
The sheet metal from the old pavilion was removed and saved for future use on the new pavilion to be built, which should help cut costs on the project, Kasten said.
He said the Spire natural gas company had sent volunteers with their “Day for Good” program to demolish the remaining pavilion at no cost to the city.
“That saved us a bunch of money,” Kasten said.
He said the city also is seeking donations to help cover electricity and other costs to operate the Bay of Naples, a popular attraction when it’s working.
“They can send a check or bring money by City Hall (1 Parkwood Court) and designate it for the playground or the splash pad and there’s donation boxes at the playground where they can put cash or a check in there.”
Kasten said many businesses have provided donations over the years, and he is hoping for more in the future.