The Chapel Hill Town Council is currently discussing the potential construction of a new community splash pad.

This summer, Chapel Hill residents submitted a petition to the town council asking for a community splash pad in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area. The petition states that building such a water facility would help families beat the heat while providing an accessible and safe space to play.

“To be a family-friendly town, we need to invest in attractions for families,” the petition reads. “There are towns and cities around the country that are working on their infrastructure to support full lives for families. We have great schools, how about now we focus on extracurriculars?”

In late September, the Town of Chapel Hill’s Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Commission unanimously voted in favor of building a splash pad.

Now, Chapel Hill’s town council is evaluating how to fund such a project and is currently gathering information about community interest. A splash pad work group has also been formed to help see this project to fruition.

Chapel Hill Mayor Pro Tem Michael Parker spoke with 97.9 The Hill about current town council discussions on the fate of the project.

“Many of our surrounding neighbors, Pittsboro, Mebane have them,” Parker said. “We are looking to make it happen.”

Parker said the most recent discussion at Wednesday’s town council meeting involved preliminary numbers on what the project might cost and a break down of potential places to put the facility.

“We’re looking into where the best location would be to make sure that it’s accessible to everyone,” he said.

The petition submitted by community members offers up Legion Park, the Community Center, Cedar Falls Park, Anderson Park or the new MLK park as potential places for the future splash pad.

The Chapel Hill Town Council will receive another update from town staff at its work session on December 1.

“So it’s still early days,” said Parker, “but I am very optimistic that we will have in Chapel Hill, in the not too distant future, a splash pad.”

 

Lead photo via City of Mebane.

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