Construction underway at Liberty Park splashpad
MADISON — Construction on a $250,000 splash pad at Liberty Park began last week with plans to be completed in time for warm weather.
The 2,600-square-foot splash pad is located next to the playground and volleyball courts at the park. The playground at Liberty Park is known as Liberty Village.
City officials hope the installation will be completed in the coming weeks, with the facility ready for enjoyment by Spring 2025.
Struthers Recreation, a company out of Pelham, Ala., is installing the splash pad. In the Spring of 2024, the city of Madison selected and approved a splash pad for Liberty Park. According to Matt Smith, a city spokesman, Struthers was selected for their “nature-based design.”
The splash pad will feature a free-flow system and will also include two separate areas: one for toddlers and another for older children, Smith said. Additionally, he said parents will have access to three shaded park benches surrounding the pad.
This is part of a $446,000 expansion to the park.
The expansion includes a new main structure called The Billows, a mix of ropes, slides, and climbers for children between the ages of 5 and 12. Smith said the project also features various other pieces installed around the main structure.
Across the walkway is a toddler area for ages 2 years old to 5 years old.
This area includes a smaller main structure with a few individual pieces around it and artificial turf safety surfacing.
That portion of the project began on July 15 and was completed on Sept. 16.
The project was 50 percent funded by a grant from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Fisheries called the Land Water Conservation Funds to expand the play equipment at Liberty Village. Smith said the city applied for and was awarded the grant in 2023.
Moonshot Recreation was awarded the contract for the project.
Liberty Park is located at 100 Liberty Park Drive off of Madison Avenue and has nearly 70 acres of athletic fields and passive park space. In addition to Liberty Village, the park includes eight lighted baseball fields, four regulation soccer fields, three T-ball practice fields, lighted batting cages, and two beach volleyball courts.