Nashua splash pad plan is moving forward

By Bob Fenske and Jennifer Lantz, Nashua Reporter

Nashua kids and people from the area may have another respite from summer heat in the coming years.

A group of Nashua community members has been pushing for a public splash pad to be installed in Cedar View Park. If everything goes as hoped, they are anticipating starting construction next spring.

People and businesses have been talking about the idea of a splash pad for more than a year, and a Splash Pad Committee has been fundraising since August.

Last week the Nashua City Council agreed to support the project by providing city water as well as water and sewer lines, providing the committee can raise enough money for the water fixture itself.

Sewer Superintendent Nick Henningsen said he supports the idea and he thinks the city infrastructure will be able to support the splash pad without problems.

The project is estimated to use about 95 gallons of water a minute, or about 35,000 gallons of water per day for the hours it would be operating.

Henningsen said he’d even like to see a larger facility than the 30-foot-by-40-foot splash pad envisioned, but he knows that fundraising ability is an issue.

The Splash Pad Committee consists of Shelly Johnson, Chase and Olivia Sudol, Peggy Lane and Barb Lumley, and it has set the fundraising goal of $100,000.

The splash pad would have numerous below-ground nozzles shooting water into the air, along with above-ground water attractions such as a large mushroom, single bucket dump, hoop, fountain fun, alligator, crab, sun spray and a duck.

Johnson said donations of any size are being sought, and even $5 helps. The committee is also looking into grants to help with the project.

The committee said it has received a bid of about $73,000 for the project, which  includes excavating, concrete, pipe, fittings, manifold, controller, activator, pad surface and labor.

The plan is to locate the splash pad by the upper shelter in Cedar View Park, giving convenient access to the shelter, restrooms and the campground. A blue swing set in that current location would be removed.

“It is the most family friendly place we could put it,” said Johnson. She said she also believes this would be a benefit not just to town residents but also rural residents and area towns.

To make a donation for this project stop at the Nashua City Hall or mail a donation to Attn: Splash Pad, 402 Main St., Nashua IA 50658.

For more information about the Splash Pad contact Johnson at 641-330-4343 or Sudol at 641-257-9400 or go to the Nashua Splash Pad on Facebook.