Splashpad Project Making Waves in Pierce
by Zane McKeown
As the community comes closer to the final product of Pierce’s very own splashpad, there are still a few things that must be accomplished. This project, though, has come a long way since the start of just the funding.
Members of the splashpad committee have been working on this for years, coming up with the plans, getting the funds, and doing the physical setup. The splash pad is not the only part of this project, though. The city is working very hard to improve Chilvers Park as a whole. Ever since the high school student council proposed the pickleball courts a few years ago, improvements have been pouring in.
Will Fogle, a member of the city council, a member of the committee, and a part of the telecommunications department at Pierce Telephone Company, mentioned that there would also soon be plans to put new basketball courts in. Chilvers Park is coming along great and is sure to be Pierce’s own pride and joy.
Construction for the project begins sometime in the middle of September. Fortunately, the spot, previously basketball courts, is all torn up and ready for the final construction to begin.
Chad Anderson, Pierce city administrator, stated that they must still complete the drainage system; finish up electrical, not only for the benefit of the splashpad, but also for the surrounding community members; and ultimately finish constructing the pad.
The city, specifically Pierce Telephone Company, spent roughly a week transitioning the overhead power to underground. They converted five blocks surrounding the area. “Moving the electrical to underground is just a small piece of the puzzle in the overall splash pad installation project, and the Chilvers Park project as a whole,” Ashley Halsey, utility clerk for the city office, said.
Fogle put quite the emphasis on the funding of the park. The project has been heavily funded by generous donations and efforts from the community. He mentioned there is around enough to completely pay for the splash pad, but there will definitely need to be a lot more effort and funding put in to finish the basketball court, benches, and shades, and the remaining tasks to bring the project together.
“We're making progress. It's been slow, but we're getting there,” Fogle said.
“We are all happy to see things coming to fruition, especially the people who have donated money to this project,” Anderson said.
The city plans to open the splash pad on June 1, 2026, if all goes well and stays on schedule.
