A proposal for the installation of an all-inclusive splash pad in Lions Park was unanimously approved by the Shakopee City Council on May 21.
Shakopee native Greg Stoks, managing director for the water division of Landscape Structures, Aquatix®, has offered the city the patent-pending hydraulic activator system, along with 11 water fountain features such as a spraying lion and frog, palm tree and arch jets. It allows children with mental and/or physical disabilities an accessible area to play.
“It’s very open and inviting and allows not just the kids, but their parents that might be assisting them also to be involved in the actual water playground feature itself,” Tracy Pink, chair of the Lions Park Committee, said at the meeting.
According to Stoks, one button would activate the system in the entire park, feeding 60 gallons of fresh water per minute for an optional duration of 30 seconds to two minutes.
Jay Tobin, Shakopee Parks and Recreation Director, said there has been discussion of potentially reusing the domestic water source for irrigation in the park or even rerouting it in order to supplement the water supply at SandVenture Aquatic Park. At the very least, Tobin said the water will go into a retention pond.
“I think it will be an awesome complement to our all-inclusive playground that gets used unbelievably by all sorts of folks,” Mayor Bill Mars said at the meeting. “That zero-barrier is really important. It’s different than playgrounds 20 years ago.”
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