Splash Pad at Greenwood Park opens to public

Written By Paula Brown

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The laughter and joy of children can be heard ringing out across Greenwood Park in Shelburne as families beat the summer heat with the opening of the community's first splash pad. 

The local splash pad, known now as the Rotary Splash Pad at Greenwood Park, officially opened to the community on July 8. 

“We're thrilled that the project is completed. It seems like it's been a long process, but $300,000 takes some time to raise. Everyone in the community has been so supportive of this project, and it has brought the community together,” said Sandra Gallaugher, chair of the Splash Pad Committee. “It's been overwhelming, the support that we've received, and we thank everyone for participating.” 

For more than a decade leading up to the splash pad's inception, residents in Shelburne and the surrounding areas expressed the need for the outdoor water recreation feature. 

In October 2019, members of the Splash Pad Committee met with Shelburne Town Council to present the project idea. The presentation outlined a draft of the projected design, potential locations for the splash pad, cost for the project, and fundraising. 

The committee met again with council in early 2020, where the location for the splash pad was decided to be Greenwood Park. The Shelburne Rotary Club later entered into a contract with Park N Play Design to provide the equipment for the splash pad. 

The splash pad was budgeted at $700,000, with the committee raising $300,000 of it through donations and the Town of Shelburne contributing the remaining $400,000 and covering the annual operating costs. 

Over three years, several fundraising events were held to help raise the community portion of the splash pads cost, including car washes, pizza giveaways, bottle drives, golf tournaments and cookie decorating. A number of local organizations and individual residents also made donations to help fund the project. 

“It showed that people are committed to the Town, and not all the money was raised from Shelburne, there were many businesses and people outside that give money,” said Gallaugher. “The people who gave feel like Shelburne is their town and if they were coming to a splash pad, that's where they would go. It really shows community spirit.” 

The Shelburne Splash Pad Committee and the Town of Shelburne celebrated breaking ground on the construction of the splash pad in January with a shovel-turning ceremony at the project's home, Greenwood Park. 

After months of construction, the Rotary Splash Pad at Greenwood Park opened this past weekend.

“The opening of the Rotary Splash Pad at Greenwood Park this week is big news for our little community. This is something that was identified as a community priority at least as far back as 2009 and it's finally become a reality,” said Shelburne Mayor Wade Mills. “Significant cred has to go to our Rotary Club and Community Splash Pad Committee partners who really led the fundraising charge and made this possible. This project really is a testament to what is possible when our community rallies around a cause and works together to realized a common vision. I am certain that this is an amenity which will be widely enjoyed for many, many years.” 

Since its opening, many families from the community have been out to enjoy the new outdoor recreational amenity. 

Shelburne resident Melanie Taylor visited the splash pad on Tuesday, with her two-year-old son. 

“It's great because we don't need to drive so far to do things for my little one, who loves to go and run and play. Being two, he doesn't have the ability to last long car rides, so getting to drive four minutes for a splash pad is better than having to drive half an hour,” said Taylor. “It also means that everyone is actually spending time in their own community and meeting new friends who are local.”

While the splash pad is located within the Town of Shelburne, it has been also been noted how the new amenity provides a close outdoor attraction for families in the communities surrounding Shelburne, including Mulmur, Melancthon and Amaranth. 

Ashley Train, a resident of Amaranth, spoke with the Free Press about having access to a splash pad closer to home. 

“It allows us a lot more time to spend at the splash pad rather than that extra travel time. I think it's great and we needed something like this in Town that's close to home and the kids are loving life right now,” said Train.  

The Rotary Splash Pad at Greenwood Park has several features, including an aqua cannon, five buckets, an aqua loop set, an aqua bash, and spray n wash. 

Residents will be able to enjoy the local splash pad from between the hours of 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. from May to September.