Splash pad officially opens

PRESCOTT – It was called a day of celebration for the community of Prescott as the Prescott Splash Pad was officially opened.

Grand opening ceremonies took place at 9:30 a.m. Friday, with a crowd of around 75 on hand. The crowd included a lot of impatient children who were ready to get the water turned on so they could get wet.

First, though, protocol had to be observed. Mary Godwin, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, welcomed everyone and let them know several groups were involved in the splash pad finally happening.

Prescott Mayor Terry Oliver recognized State Rep. Danny Watson, saying he’s done a lot to help Prescott. “This has been a long time coming,” he said, with the city and city council having to make difficult decisions, first concerning the former swimming pool (which has been replaced by volleyball courts) and what should be put up, along with how it would be paid for. Overall, he said, 15 members of the Prescott City Council worked on the project, which became a reality when Godwin wrote a grant to the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, which was approved.

The city employees, he continued, worked on the project, with all departments getting involved in some form or fashion. The Prescott Police Department, he added, will be making regular patrols of the area to make sure everything is copacetic.

Godwin read the rules for the splash pad, and reminded everyone of the hours. The pad will be open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday. She also pointed out the splash pad, bathrooms and volleyball courts are being covered with security cameras which are fed directly to the PPD.

Once the talking was done, a bronze plaque was unveiled for the pad, followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony, much to the dismay of the children present as they were chomping at the bit to get wet, followed by the pushing of the button to turn on the waterworks. Actually, the button had nothing to do with the water coming on, and was just for show as the system was on a timer set to go off at 10 a.m.

The youngsters wasted no time getting under the different areas as the water began cascading both up and down.