Elba starts summer with a splash
Screams of excitement filled the air Memorial Day weekend marking the annual opening of the Elba Splash Pad on the grounds of Tiger Town Park in downtown Elba.
The water amusement attraction operated by the Elba Parks and Recreation Department was officially opened in June 2018 and is one of three amenities at the Tiger Town Park.
Parents and children from Elba and surrounding communities enjoyed the coolness of the water gushing from the poles in and around the pad. Generally closed on Mondays for routine maintenance, the Splash Pad was open Monday, May 31, for Memorial Day Weekend festivities.
Regular operating hours are Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., and the Pad is usually available for use from Memorial Day until October. The location of the Splash Pad is ideal because of its proximity to the playground and dog park allowing visitors to enjoy a variety of activities while they cool off.
Greg Hanchey, director at the Elba Recreation Department, often does the necessary maintenance the grounds require. “We chose this location with the splash pad, playground and dog park to be like a one
Rachel Snipes, a parent from Enterprise, visited the Splash Pad with her kids during Memorial Day weekend. As a regular visitor, this was her first of many trips she plans this summer.
“We come here over the summer a few times per month,” she said. She explained that it is a great family environment, and her kids look forward to visiting all the time. She added that they usually spend a few hours at the park splashing and playing at the playground.
She said her family values the opportunity to cool off in the summer heat. The kids are normally entertained from playing rigorously and running through the blast of water from the poles.
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The splash pad opens at the time when area schools close, providing local children with a cool way to stay occupied during the summer. The Elba Department of Recreation saw a need for the water park to give the children something to look forward to in downtown Elba.
Hanchey explained that the idea was to provide an environment where families can gather to share, build memories together and enjoy a waterpark. It is a public facility, therefore there is no admission charge.
The Splash Pad attracts many people from outside of Elba. “We have a lot of visitors from out of town which we are glad to have, and it’s certainly such a blessing for Elba in hopes that they’ll contribute our economy,” Hanchey said.
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