Two council members voted against the quoted price, with one airing opposition because of the splash pad's future upkeep expense.
During the work session, council member Tag Green had concerns about upkeep as well as the location of the splash pad—Line Drive Avenue and Sports Parkway—because of safety issues with children, such as stranger threats, and thought it could be put somewhere else so it was not so close to a street.
During the vote in the regular meeting, Green and fellow council member Sean Hicks were opposed to the price in a 5-2 vote.
The background
At the meeting, council approved a change order for the construction manager at risk services agreement with Dean Construction that set the guaranteed maximum price for construction of the splash pad to $4,886,208. This also set the maximum price for the entire Keller Sports Park Improvement Project to $35,787,812, according to a council agenda memo.
Along with the splash pad, the project consists of a pumphouse with a family restroom, landscape enhancements, enhanced paving, furnishings, lighting, entry gateways, irrigation, sidewalks, shade structures, utility modifications and grading/drainage improvements.
Zooming in
Green said during the regular session that the pad was a “beautiful amenity” to the sports park but had concerns about maintenance costs. He said he thought council struggled to get answers from the contractor about the splash pad.
After Director of Community Services Cody Maberry responded to a question from council member Ross McMullin about park operations and maintenance funding, Green asked Maberry whether the city would be responsible for the upkeep on the splash pad after it was built. Maberry replied yes.
“That’s my point,” Green said, adding that “we’re making decisions based on things that we don’t know and we haven't even discussed.”
McMullin said he appreciates the splash pad being added to the park and that it could be a destination for people wanting to hold special events, such as birthday and retirement parties, and being an excellent entrance and gateway feature of the park.
The splash pad should be finished by the end of 2025, said Rachel Reynolds, communication and public engagement manager with the city.
