Hours for the wildly p
opular new splash pad at the Wayland City Park have been expanded by one more hour in the evenings from now through Labor Day.
The City Council Monday evening voted 3 to 2 to permit the splash pad to be open until 8 p.m. Hours previously had been from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Councilwoman Tracy Bivins first proposed the added hour to be applied only for July and August because they are the warmest two months and the sun doesn’t set until after 8 p.m.
Mayor Tim Bala said he is concerned about the city’s costs for the extra hour. He said the splash pad uses 8,300 gallons per hour and the water bill just last month was about $6,000.
But Councilman Rick Mathis said many families can’t get to the park weekdays until about 6:30, after dinner, giving their children only a half hour to enjoy it and the new park playground equipment.
Councilman Tim Rose spoke out against the move.
Noting the increased activity at the park the summer, he said, “These things can keep people awake… If we do that (increase hours) and it keeps up, it’ll be open hours a day… We’re only targeting people who work 9 to 5 weekdays.”
Mathis disagreed. “We are catering to the entire city, not just the few who live near the park. And the longer we have it open, the more will be able to attract people to the downtown.”
Gail Hollinger, from the audience, noting that she lives near the park on Maple Street, said, “I have not been disturbed by the noise to the point I have to stick fingers in my ears. Besides, I love the counds of children playing in the park. It’s a lot better than before the splash pad opened and there were some unsavory characters.”
Bivins added, “I live next to a school and I love the sound of children playing. It’s like living next to a train. You get used to it.”
Bivins, Bala and Mathis voted in the affirmative to add the hour, Rose and John Sloan voted against it.
When asked why, Sloan said, “Money, the extra cost. Sometimes we need to take a look at fiscal responsibility.”
Bala said the new hours would apply though Labor Day and then the weather would determine how late it’s open later in September. The City Council may revisit the issue next spring.
