Leawood splash pad project stopped in its tracks

By Ben McCarthy

Leawood’s June 16th meeting of the Leawood Governing Body started off with Councilmembers unanimously rejecting a resolution to move forward with the installation of a new splash pad at the Aquatic Center at 106th and Lee Boulevard.

Earlier this year, Leawood began soliciting bids for the design and installation of a new splash pad at the Aquatic Center. The current one, which was constructed in 2002, has been deemed by the City to be at the end of its use, with operational issues and incidents of malfunctioning having increased during recent summer pool seasons. 

The Parks, Recreation & Arts Department had budgeted the project to replace the splash pad at $750,000, a number that raised several eyebrows throughout the City’s Governing Body on Monday night. Ward 3 Councilmember, Rachel Rubin, was one of many voices who expressed discomfort with the price tag (and uncertainty as to how the Parks staff arrived at the number), and expressed a need for caution around spending, be it for splash pads, or other forms of discretionary spending. 

“We’re in a new era in Leawood, where we really have to be cautious about spending,” Rubin said. “We have always had a lot of money, and our amenities are top notch – our city park is outstanding.”

Parks Director Chris Claxton and Assistant Director Marisa Shartzer both tried in vain to assuage the Councilmembers’ questions and concerns about the project. Claxton said the figure of $750,000 referred to the budget, but the actual proposal they were prepared to move forward with came in closer to $600,000. Shartzer defended the figure saying that she and her staff toured many splash pads throughout the area, and worked with Lee’s Summit Parks Department during the RFP (request for proposals) process to arrive at the final number (also adding that the budget rose to $750,000 to help cover any project contingencies). 

Council members said their own experiences at the site suggest that moving towards demolition of the splash pad (estimated to be around $35,000) might be the more germane option. 

“Kids are just not using the splash pad,” Ward 2 Councilmember Mary Larson said. “We have so many other fun activities at the pool – the rest of the pool rocks!”

Ward 3 Council member Lisa Harrison echoed Larson’s sentiment, saying that after a lengthy visit to the park over the weekend, she didn’t see any kids using the splash pad, and the price tag to replace it is too steep for something that is a seasonal amenity for such a small audience of very young children. 

The resolution, to both waive the bidding process and to move forward on the project with RJR Enterprises of Rogers, Arkansas, was denied, unanimously. Ward 4 Councilmember Julie Cain said there were more pressing matters for Parks to focus on, such as the resurfacing of tennis courts and improvements along Indian Creek Trail. 

Mayor Marc Elkins added that he hoped the Councilmembers would designate any future demolition of the splash pad site for postponement until the conclusion of a summer pool season.