Town plans to keep its cool during long, hot summer

Dan Kulin

Monday, Feb. 17, 2003 | 10:40 a.m.

Preparing for a long hot Southern Nevada summer, Boulder City is building an array of water cannons, misters and spray jets that are sure to make the little city one of the coolest places around.

A new splash park, which was partially designed by some of the children who will use it, will be getting people wet at Veterans' Memorial Park by June, city officials say.

Opening such a water-intensive attraction may seem odd as the region battles through a long drought and local governments are looking at implementing water-use restrictions. But Boulder City and Southern Nevada Water Authority officials say there is no need to worry because the water spurting from the park toys will be funneled into the sewer system, treated and reused.

Water authority spokeswoman Tracy Bower said the agency has reviewed and OK'd the plans for the splash park.

"As long as the water is recycled, we feel it is compatible with the drought plan," Bower said.

Besides, Councilman Mike Pacini said, the new park will improve the community by giving children something fun to do when the weather is too hot to do much of anything outside.

"We live in a very hot area and this is something that many residents have been asking for," Pacini said.

Pacini, who led the push for the splash park, said the idea first came up during a youth council program about two years ago. Then he was with his own children at Henderson's Mission Hills Park when his daughter asked why Boulder City didn't have a splash park like the one there.

About November Pacini pulled together a group of 14 city children ages 5 to 11 to pick what they wanted in the new park.

"They're the ones who will be using it," he said.

Children also helped design the city's skateboard and freestyle bicycle parks.

The splash park will be on about half an acre between the BMX track and soccer fields at Veterans' Memorial Park and will be divided into three main areas. One area will have water cannons, another will have buckets in a castle, a dragon and a tower, and the third will be made up of misting attractions. The equipment is expected to cost about $122,000.

The splash park will be on a special skid-proof, bouncy surface.

Parks with similar attractions are operated by Clark County, which has five parks with what it calls spray pools.

The road to the new Boulder City splash park is already under construction. Water lines are being installed and the park should be operational by June, City Parks and Recreation Director Roger Hall said.

The water coming out of the park toys will be regular tap water. The splash park is designed so the water is funneled into the city sewer system, where it will be treated at the sewage plant. Hall said the city then sells the treated wastewater to local companies, some of which use it in their cleaning processes.

Bower said the process for the water will be just like the journey taken by water used to wash dishes or take a shower.

"As long as the water is captured (and put into) the sanitary sewer system, it falls within the drought plan," Bower said.