November 18, 2024  |  Festus City Council members recently agreed to dedicate $380,000 in additional funds for the planned splash pad and all-inclusive playground project at Larry G. Crites Memorial Park.

The money is specifically assigned to the playground area.

The council initially allocated $1.5 million for the splash pad and playground project. The council voted unanimously Oct. 28 to approve the additional $380,000 so the entire playground can be installed at once, instead of in phases.

None of the work has begun, although the splash pad project should soon begin, city officials said.

The extra funding also will cover the cost of additional equipment, engineering and other related items for the playground project, City Administrator Greg Camp said.

He said the additional equipment will include benches and sun shades.

The council included the $1.5 million for the project in its 2023-2024 fiscal budget, and from the start, city officials said work on the splash pad would start first.

On May 28, the council awarded a $818,916 contract to Aquatix/Nu-Toys/Capri Pools for construction of the Splash Pad at Turtle Cove and at that time, planned to have it built near the city’s Animal Control shelter on the south side of Old Hwy. A in the park.

In July, however, city officials decided to move the splash pad and playground to Lucas Field, the largest ballfields in the park, and they have renamed the water play area and playground Turtle Cove at Lucas Field.

Since the Festus R-6 School District had a ballfield built behind the high school, Lucas Field hasn’t been used much, officials reported.

Officials decided to use the remaining $681,084 from the original $1.5 million for the playground, installing what they could with the money and completing the rest later as funds became available. However, by allocating the extra $380,000, the city will be able to install the whole playground at once, Camp said.

He said the target to open Turtle Cove at Lucas Field is the spring of 2025, with the playground work set to start around the time the splash pad work finishes.

“Once the main footprint of the splashpad is established, they can start working on the playground,” Camp said. “I’m anticipating the playground work will start in spring 2025 and the work on the playground will finish by the fall (of 2025). That’s a conservative estimate.”

The Turtle Cove part of the name comes from the theme of the splashpad area, which will offer water play features shaped like turtles, officials said.

Camp said people have expressed a great deal of interest in the projects.

“I think the community is excited about it,” Camp said.

Article courtesy of Leader Publication