City Council approved at its Dec. 11 meeting the construction of a splash pad in front of the new Georgetown Art Center at the corner of Main and Ninth streets.

Library Director Eric Lashley said the contract for more than $155,000 was awarded to T.F. Harper & Associates, the company that also built the outdoor splash feature at the Georgetown Recreation Center.

"As the art center project has moved forward, we were given the opportunity to look at redeveloping the corner of Main and Ninth [streets], and along with the ThunderCloud Subs project to expand the downtown one extra block and create an attraction, which would serve as a park, an outdoor eating space and an entertainment space," Lashley said at the City Council meeting. "The Art Center sidewalk expansion and pocket park project has been met with great support and enthusiasm."

The project would be funded through parkland dedication fees and from the downtown projects fund, he said.

Lashley said the project has been presented to several city advisory boards, including the Arts and Culture, Main Street Advisory, and Parks and Recreation boards, as well as the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Historic and Architectural Review Commission, all of which contributed to the facility's design.

Linda McCalla, vice chairwoman of the Main Street Advisory Board, said the splash pad will be a great complement to the Art Center and the ThunderCloud Subs development.

"To our way of thinking, it would become a hidden gem in the gem that is our downtown. It's a quality-of-life feature, and one that will bring people downtown and keep people downtown for longer, especially families with children," McCalla said.

Lashley said plans are also being made to use the space for outdoor events and live music as part of First Fridays downtown.

According to city documents, the splash pad will be designed to recirculate water and provide limited spraying to minimize the total amount of water used. Use will also be limited during water conservation stages, and could include decreasing the days and hours it would be available.