Fredonia determined to open splash pad this year

The claim isn’t all wet — Fredonia’s splash pad is slated to open this year.

Village Administrator Christophe Jenkins told the Village Board last month that plumbing and electrical work is finished and final grading is underway.

Quasius Construction of Sheboygan is coming back to finish the features on the pad.

“Fingers crossed that everything will be done by that first week in October,” Jenkins said.

The village will test the equipment and make sure everything is in working order, but the question remained: Should the pad open in fall or spring?

“It has been rather warm lately. Even if it’s a little chilly we can see it running and do the grand opening,” Village President Peter Lenz said.

“I think it would be worthwhile just because everybody’s been waiting so long. We keep having to push back the date. It would be nice to do something yet this year.”

Trustee Natalie Eippert agreed.

“Open it up. I think people are just so excited about it. Then it’ll be on their mind and they’ll be really excited in the spring,” she said.

Jenkins said he will plan for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, will invite donors and “make a big deal about it.”

An opening date hasn’t been announced.

The plan is to keep the pad open “as long as weather allows,” Jenkins said, before winterizing it.

The splash pad is on the east side of the parking lot at Marie Kraus Park across from the restrooms and near the disc golf course.

The pad costs around $350,000, with much of that money raised via donations.

As of spring, nearly 40 local businesses and private donors gave more than $130,000 for the splash pad and the Village Board designated $100,000 of its American Rescue Plan Act funds toward it.

The splash pad received $10,000 donations from Hartmann Sand & Gravel, Casey’s Charitable Fund, Petersen Products and the Fredonia Lions.

The owner of Steffen Plumbing, Kim Steffen, and his wife Joan donated $25,000.

The splash pad is being named after Port Washington State Bank, which was the largest contributor, with a matching grant and a donation totaling $50,000.

In addition, Jenkins said, the village received a number of small donations, including numerous contributions from families excited about the splash pad.