Painesville opens new splash pad, dog park at Kiwanis Recreation Park - The News-Herald
The barks of dogs and the squeals of excited kids sounded in Painesville’s Kiwanis Recreation Park on May 23 as visitors enjoyed the first moments of the city’s brand-new dog park and splash pad.
City officials and other community members used the warm, sunny day to open the new facilities before the start of Memorial Day weekend. City Manager Doug Lewis also discussed plans for future additions to the park.
“It’s an exciting day for the city of Painesville and for our residents and the region,” Lewis said.
City Council President Jim Fodor added that Recreation Park is “becoming a central place for not only Painesville but the surrounding area as well.”
The dog park includes a small dog area for those under 25 pounds and a large dog area for those that weigh more. The amenity is partially located on Recreation Park’s former baseball diamond 6 and is next to the skate park.
The park will be open from dawn to dusk. Rules are located at the entrance of each section.“This facility was recommended due to the fact that no one was really using the field, and it was becoming overgrown, so we thought that it would be a good idea to look at this location for the dog park and create a dog park in our main park,” Lewis said. Many visitors soon crossed over to the splash pad for a ribbon-cutting ceremony southwest of the park’s pond. Children and their caretakers were already lined up waiting for the water to be turned on, and they rushed forward once the speeches ended.
The splash pad will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day from Memorial Day to Labor Day. City Recreation Supervisor Justin Gollin said that to save water, motion sensors will activate the water on a 15-minute cycle.
The city said in October that the splash pad would include water coils, dump buckets, water arches, jet sprays, an orbit spray, a “sprin brella,” water shooters and a water worm. Lewis also used the celebration to thank those who supported the two projects. He said that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources contributed $30,000 to the dog park and $40,000 to the splash pad through its NatureWorks grants. The Painesville Community Improvement Corporation provided an additional $10,000 for the dog park.
Additional funding for the splash pad came from American Rescue Plan Act funds and state capital funding. Lewis thanked state Sen. Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland, and state Reps. Jamie Callender, R-Concord Township, and Dan Troy, D-Willowick, for their role in securing the capital funding.
“We’re just so happy this is done,” said city Public Lands and Recreation Director Michelle LaPuma. “I’ve worked a long time on the Recreation Commission to bring this here.”
Moving forward, Lewis said that city officials want to add a zip line area to Kiwanis Recreation Park. They also plan to add an amphitheater near the upcoming Grand River Walk development.
“This is the gem of Painesville, and that’s what we want to make it,” he said.
Kiwanis Recreation Park is located at 301 Latimore St. and is open from dawn to dusk every day, according to the city website.