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The Splash Pad
What the Town Manager has told Mayor and Town Council about the splash pad, report by report, since March 2022.
12 reports, March 2022 to August 2024
2024
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Splash Pad Dedication
The town held a dedication ceremony for our new Splash Pad on July 16th, which was attended by town staff and former staff members, elected officials, representatives of the Smyth County Chamber of Commerce, representatives from the local press, and members of the community at large. I would like to thank everyone who attended and helped kick off this outstanding new asset to our community.
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Opening of the Splash Pad and Water Usage
On Friday, June 21 the splash pad opened to the public. We had hoped to open it right after Memorial Day but the fencing was not installed until Thursday, June 20, so we could not.
The splash pad has been extremely busy since that day. Its hours are 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. With the sunny weather at this writing and the newness of the facility I have been by it only one time in five days that the facility was not being used by youngsters and their families. During that time I have see no fewer than six youngsters and family at the facility. I have been reading social media and talking to folks in the community and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
We have been monitoring the splash pad’s water usage. In an effort to save water the design of the facility is divided into three sections so the whole system will not turn on with just one or a few people there. When each one of the touch modules is utilized, water will run for three minutes then cut off. In conjunction with Public Works and Water Operations we ran some numbers the end of the first day which we think will be indicative of the usage the next several months until closure in September. We found that the first hour on the facility used 660 gallons opening day June 21. For ten hours that number would be 6,600 for the ten hour day*. For 30 days that number would extrapolate to 198,000 gallons per month.
To put that in perspective, using an average household usage of say 3,000 gallons per month, the usage at the splash pad would be an equivalent of 66 houses, or another Applewood Subdivision. Health Department measurements are in million gallon per day (MGD). Our joint water treatment plant is licensed at 3.1MGD, with the Town at 1.4 MGD and the Washington County Service Authority at 1.7 MGD. 6,600 gallons a day is .007 MGD is not a huge usage in the big picture. And it should be remembered that the calculations above are for continual daily uses with no down time during the day, and no down times during rainy days. There will certainly be some / many of these down times / rainy days between now and the end of season.
*(National Pools came to the splash pad on July 2 and did some minor adjustment work on a nozzle coming out on the turtle feature. At that time they felt the water flow could be decreased slightly. The following day we read the meter and the flow had gone from 6,600 an hour to 6,000 an hour, a 10% decrease.)
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Splash Pad Opening and Dog Park Dedication
At this writing the Splash Pad (or Spray Ground) is scheduled to be opened on Monday, June 10. The fence is to installed the week of June 3. National Pools of Roanoke is scheduled to do the training on June 6. Recreation / Special Events Coordinator Stephen Fields laid out the logistics of the opening and closing of the facility weekdays and weekends. You have a copy of Stephen’s undated memo entitled “Splash Pad Opening and Closing”.
The hours of operations are slated to be from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 pm. The bathrooms will be locked either by the Police Department or Fire / Emergency Medical Service Staff. In case of lighting the facility will be self enforced since no staff will be present at the facility on a full time basis. The dedication / ribbon cutting for the facility will be determined at Council’s June 13 meeting.
The Dog Park dedication is scheduled to on June 8 at 11:00 at the site, of course. It is being done in conjunction with the Smyth County Chamber of Commerce who the Town is partnering with on “Woof Stock” Day on the north side of the park at the main shelter. This second annual event is a fundraiser in conjunction with Smyth Animal Rescue. It is a fund raiser that will include a pet show and demonstration, and will include vendors, inflatables, etc.
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Application for Funding Through the Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) Program for Splash Pad Complex / Educational Trail Project
You have in your agenda packet a copy of the application I put in for the CDS Program. I was notified by Senator Mark Warner’s Regional Director Shane Clem of the program and had read about it beforehand.
As you can see in the application, I applied for the approximate $90,800 deficit of funding between the estimated cost of construction at $340,800, compared to the $250,000 put up by the Town of Chilhowie and the Smyth County Community Foundation. The project is tied in with and will enhance programs at the Chilhowie Branch Library, including adult GED classes, reading programs, special children’s events, etc.; plus programs of the Chilhowie Garden Club and the Virginia Extension office.
I am not fully familiar with the requirements of this program, but know its pretty open ended. I know that the Town of Tazewell got money for fire equipment and the Town of Marion for housing. Hopefully this project, especially with educational component, will be eligible.
The deadline for application was 5:00 on April 5. Since it only took me a day to put the application together, including about 50 pages of attachments which I did not include in this packet, I thought it would be work the effort for a possible $90,800.
2023
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Pre-Construction Conference on Splash Pad Project
On September 7 my staff and I and met with personnel from National Pools of Roanoke, Contractor Kim Davidson and Architect Nathan Brown on the Splash Pad Project. Several coordination issues were discussed which I thought was especially important since we have two contractors on the job.
Construction is slated to begin on September 25 immediately following the conclusion of the Apple Festival. A beginning bench mark locations was discussed and a drop inlet in the back parking lot will be used and a mark on the Old High School made from it. Some changes were made in the bathroom part of the contract and the architect will make those changes. Public Works will be tasked with digging several utility ditches and preparing water and sewer connections that will have to done early in the construction. A final construction set of plans will be completed in about ten days and distributed to the contractors and staff.
Regarding the timeline National Pools has 180 days from September 25 to complete the project. They feel they will be substantially done their part by the end of the calendar year. Kim Davidson does not have any set time period for completion in his contract. He did indicate that his work would not be completed until late winter/ early Spring 2024.
The contractors agreed that their work would be done in time to open the facility in the Spring of 2024. A tentative date for start up and training was discussed and the first week of May seemed to be the best date. The facility opening on Memorial Day Weekend, 2024 is planned.
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Update on Splash Pad Project
The Staff and I met with a local contractor on August 2 to discuss the second part of the project. Our Architect Nathan Brown was also at the meeting. This contractor has done a lot of work for the Town the last several years. As you recall National Pools of Roanoke has the bid at $168,000 for the pad itself at $168,000. More on that below.
The contractor t was interested in bidding the bathroom and appurtenances, all the concrete work and related work. He would give a labor price on that plus a supply price from a local supplier. He felt it would be better to get someone else on the fencing and landscaping because he could not provide those services, and if he did he would just have to mark it up. Our staff and architect agreed this would be the best strategy at this juncture. When and after the main footprint of the project is completed, we could take care of those amenities when the facility is opened in the Spring / Summer of 2024.
I encouraged the contractor to give us a price as soon as he could. As soon as I get the price I will take it to Council for approval. As you recall we formally bid the building side of the project out earlier this year and got no bidders. We can now negotiate with contractors on the balance of the project, as is approved by our Town Attorney Paul Cassell. Another contractor may also give a quote. If at all possible we would like to have a contractor on this portion of the project when National Pools begins in September.
Regarding the start of the portion of the contractor National Pools is doing, they were slated to start on September 15. But we realized that they could well put them in the midst of Apple festivals activities. We asked that they move their start date back to September 25. They agreed and we will be putting that extra 10 days on the back of the contract for scheduled completion.
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Submission of Specifications on Splash Pad
You have in your agenda a paper sized copy of the specifications of the splash pad put together by our architect Nathan Brown of Barrington Landscape Architecture in Lebanon. Nathan has also supplied a full sized copy of the plans. Nathan indicates that the plans are about 90% plus complete.
We met with Nathan on January 5, 2023 to go over these specs. Also at the meeting was Ms. Lynda Helton, who has been newly appointed as Executive Director of the Smyth County Foundation. The Foundation awarded the Town up to $125,000 for the Splash Pad after Recreation / Special Events Coordinator Jeff Smarr and I submitted a grant application. Also at the meeting were Building Official David Haynes, Water and Sewer Foreman and Jeff.
At the meeting elements of the Pad were discussed. Comments were noted and incorporated by Nathan of water and sewer connections / sites, rain garden overflows, electrical additions, etc. A summary of those items are included in your agenda packet. It was also decided that the best course for bidding the project would be two bids- one for the Splash Pad itself, and a second for all the accompaniments, including bathrooms, shelters, playground equipment, fencing, etc. A specialty contract would most likely bid on the Pad and a General Contractor on the accompaniments.
The bid schedule was also discussed with advertisements in late January / early February with construction in the April timeline. That schedule and perhaps other items will be submitted to you for approval at this meeting.
2022
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Execution of Contract for the Design of the Splash Pad with Nathan Brown of Barrington Landscape Architecture
You have in your agenda packet a September 27 cover letter and contract with Mr. Nathan Brown of Barrington Landscape Service of Lebanon for the design, survey and bidding for the Splash Pad slated to be placed on the west side of the Old High School (OHS).
While Barrington will be our point of contact, he will be getting assistance from Highlands Mapping, LLC of Abingdon for the physical survey at $1,500 and from Huber Architects of Marion at $3,500 for the restrooms and pump house design. When we were talking about the contract with Nathan, I wanted to make certain that we had a turn key job on the design from him, and not having to deal with various individuals/ firms. This contract achieves that.
The total cost for the contract is $10,750, not including any Construction Observation or inspection. Nathan is also going to be in contract with National Pools of Roanoke for design of the Splash Pad itself, and that fee is included in his Design Development. National Pools will not only assist him with the design, but they may also bid on the project. They will also advise us on the type of Splash Pad to utilize - recirculating, or tap to drain (the best option based on the information we have now); and if tap to drain how to dispose of the excess used water.
The design is slated to be completed within 90 days of the contract date. Bidding of the project should take place early in 2023. Hopefully, the project will be substantially completed by the Summer of 2023 in able for it to be used by the community.
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Application to the Smyth County Community Foundation for the Splash Pad Complex
You have in your Agenda packet an application Recreation / Special Events Coordinator and I sent to the Smyth Community Foundation (Foundation) for funding. We ask for $125,000 from the Foundation. In the application we included letters of support from the Chilhowie Community Apple Festival Committee, the Smyth County (Chilhowie Branch) Library, the Chilhowie Baptist Church, the Chilhowie Family First Committee and the Chilhowie Police Department. Also included in the packet were the minutes of the Chilhowie Town Council from July 14 where the Council put up $125,000 of its own money for the project. We understand that the application will be presented to the Foundation Board on August 16.
We visited Lebanon on July 21 to look at their Splash Pad Complex and were very impressed. Jeff Smarr, Don Cole, Water / Wastewater Operator, and me traveled there. We met Mayor Toni Dodi, Town Manager Andrew “Drew” Shortt and some of his staff. As I understand it there are two systems for the Pads. One is a recirculating model and the other is the used water going straight into a storm drain or drain and no recycled. The Town of Lebanon has a system that the water goes directly into a storm drain and not recycled. They stated that it is easy to maintain. They said the recirculating system requires a much greater installation / capital costs, including large underground tanks, and has to be maintained continually in order to retreat the used water.
Mayor Dodi, he has been impressed with the use of the facility, and mentioned that even school buses have come there from Lee and Dickenson Counties. He also mentioned during the season the splash pad uses up to 1,500,000 gallons per month, or 50,000 gallons per day (.050 MGD). Lebanon has the water set on 15-minute durations once the switch is pushed.
Don Cole also talked to some utility personnel at the Steele Creek Splash Pad in Bristol, Tennessee. He said they had a recirculating system and wished they had gone with a system that put the used water directly into a drain line.
The biggest advantage of a recirculating system is the reduced water intake and discharged water usage. If we decided to go with the system that directs used water out of the facility and into a drain, it will have to go into the sewer. Jay Keen advises we will have to upgrade the sewer line at the Old High School for a distance of about 200 feet. Also, if facility uses .05MGD for four months in the summer, that would put about another approximately 8.3% more flow into the sewer plant at an assumed flow of 600,000 GPD (50,000 GPD divided by 600,000 GPD average flow at plant = 8.3%).
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Update on Splash Pad Project
Mr. Nathan Brown of Barrington Landscape Architects will be on hand to present formally the concept of the proposed Splash Pad. You have in your revised agenda packet that will be at your seat on Thursday the cost estimate and drawings of the proposed facility dated April 14, 2022. The estimated cost of the facility is $291,112.50 high and the low $204,197.50.
As mentioned earlier Recreation / Special Events Coordinator Jeff Smarr and I had met on May 18 with Mr. Mike Robinson of the Smyth County Foundation and talked several times about this project; and, inquired more specifically if it would be eligible for funding from the Foundation. Mr. Robinson responded recently that the Grant Committee of the Foundation had preliminarily looked at the project and the committee felt it met the broad guidelines of “offering direct and immediate or near immediate benefit to the health and well-being of Smyth County Residents”.
As a result of the Committee’s meeting, Mr. Robinson invited the Town to make a formal application for partial funding of the project. Jeff Spickard and I will be working on the application and will submit it the end of the month. It is my understanding that the full Foundation Board will meet on August 16 to evaluate the Town’s funding application.
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Meeting with Mr. Mike Robinson with the Smyth County Foundation on Splash Pad Complex
On May 18 Recreation and Special Events Coordinator Jeff Smarr and I met with Mr. Mike Robinson, who is the chair of the Smyth County Foundation. The Foundation was founded after several buy outs of the Smyth County Community Hospital that was left to the community. Mike is a former Superintendent of Smyth County Schools. As you may know the Foundation has been very active in Smyth County the last few years lending money to the Town of Marion for the purchase of Holston Hills Country Club, and funding the Lifetime Wellness Center in Saltville. We wanted to talk to Mike and get his insights if he thought the Splash Pad Project would be eligible for funding, and the Foundation would want to partner with the Town. We presented him plans and cost estimates on the proposed project, which was done by our Architect Nathan Brown of Barrington Landscape Architecture.
The foundation’s board guidelines for grant funding is for “offerings direct and immediate or near immediate benefit to the health and well-being of Smyth County Residents”. Mr. Robinson agreed that this project should qualify under those guidelines. He stated he will be meeting with the grant committee in early June to see what we will need to do, in regards to the grant applications and other issues. In regards to the timeline, which he asked, we told him that we were looking to a 2023-time frame, if approved by Council.
In regards to funding, we had received both a low estimate on the complex at $204,197.50 and a high estimate at $291,112.50 from out architect. We chose the middle number for a total cost at $250,000. We stated that we plan on asking the Foundation for half that cost at $125,000 in their partnership with the Town.
I wanted to get all the funding options committed or pending before I formally asked Council to move forward on the project. As an aside, Jeff Smarr received a letter from Ms. Vicki Wilson and Ms. Rebecca Wilkinson Smith supporting the project. We had not asked for the letter. Jeff said he was asked about the project at an Apple Festival meeting held recently. He said nothing was official about the project and that funding has not been put together, plus it has not been approved by Council. Nonetheless, the letter was written and is attached in your agenda.
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Contract for Master Plans on the Dog Park and the Splash Pad Complex
You have in your agenda packet two contracts for Master Plans for the Dog Park and the Splash Pad Complex through Nathaniel Brown of Barrington Landscape Architecture in Lebanon. As you recall Mr. Brown did the Streetscape layout for the plant and tree plantings. Council approved me soliciting these proposals and executing them last month.
The Dog Park is slated to be put along south bank of the Middle Fork behind the Exxon and along the walking trail from the H.L. Bonham House and Visitors Center / Smyth County Chamber of Commerce. I think it would be an excellent accompaniment for that organization by having the Dog Park there. There are several acres of land in that area that would be available and by natural terrain it is far above the 100 year flood level. There is also a possibility that and old abandoned cabin, with old hewed logs, could be incorporated into the design.
The Splash Pad will be designed in the Old High School / Little League field area, or possibly in the lot(s) in front and south of the Old High School. In addition to possible American Rescue Plan Act money, possible other funding could come from the Smyth County Community Foundation. The Foundation funded the Wellness Center in Saltville and the Holston Hills Community Golf Course in Marion. Funding for this project would certainly be within their grant guidelines, as stated on their website, of supporting projects “that contribute to the improved physical, mental, and emotional status of the citizens of Smyth County…..”
Mr. Brown said he would have the Master Plans completed in a couple of weeks and present it to the Town Council at its April or May meeting.