Splash pad water park likely to be done by end of September

On a rainy Friday afternoon as the first leaves of the fall season are changing color, a technician from McGlinn's Plumbing and Heating works on the highly anticipated splash pad in Presque Isle. The newest addition to Presque Isle's public recreation offerings should be ready before winter. The splash pad will allow visitors to play safely in spraying water around colorful structures. Since there is hardly any standing water on a splash pad, lifeguards are unnecessary, because there is little risk of drowning. (Andrew Birden)

Presque Isle’s splash pad water park likely will be finished by the end of September, according to Chris Beaulieu, director of the recreation department.

Whether youngsters will have an opportunity to play in it this year, however, is uncertain.

With the cooler fall season approaching, “it’s not likely, but we are hoping to squeeze out one more warm day to have kids test it,” Beaulieu said Friday.

Since the end of July, construction crews have been working on the water park, which cost about $600,000 total for the equipment and installation.

While a little higher than the $500,000 city officials initially were shooting for, Council Chair Emily Smith said in July that it was still “better than $2 million for a pool and then paying to have a lifeguard.”

The outdoor play area will feature sprinklers and various spraying devices to provide water activities for toddlers, all the way up to pre-teens.

Beaulieu said Friday that he is “really looking forward” to the splash pad water park’s completion.

“We may have to wait until next spring,” he said. “But I think kids are going to love it.”