SplashPad Project:
KIWANIS CLUB OF DELPHOS MAKES A SPLASH
After months of anticipation, area children enjoyed the Kiwanis Splash Pad for the first time Thursday, July 27th, 2017. The attraction was turned on and christened with buckets of water from contributors, contractors local and area dignitaries, and the community. The “key” to the splash pad was turned over to the City of Delphos.
Today the nearly 4,000-square-foot Splash Pad cools off guests of all ages, thanks to 25 interactive water features. The highlight, a Kiwanis-logo-adorned, 55-gallon splash bucket. The Splash Pad allows no standing water and offers zero-barrier access, so those living with disabilities can join in the fun.
When the club began fundraising efforts in September 2015, members hoped to raise $350,000. The club covered part of the costs through proceeds from annual projects. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources provided a grant, while local businesses and individuals stepped up as well. “We knew that we couldn’t tackle this kind of money without the full support of the community and the businesses,” says member Mark Miller.
The club tackled the project with rigid guidelines and goals:
— A total commitment from the chapter;
— A community effort led by the Kiwanis and supported by the city;
— Installation completed in 2017 to maintain interest in the project; and
— The goal of $350,000 reached by the end of 2016 to order the equipment and meet the 2017 installation time line.
“Not only did we make this a community effort financially, but the Kiwanis built an unexpected relationship with the Delphos Stadium Club to help them complete the south and west sidewalks, lighting adjacent to the walks, the additional picnic pads and umbrellas outside the water complex and a portion of the west parking lot,” Said Ron Kimmet, member. “All this was done with budgeted monies the Stadium Club raised in the past.”
By the Splash Pad’s debut, when funds raised were combined with donated labor from Kiwanians and contractors, the park’s total worth had soared to more than $500,000. The generosity enabled club members to include a key environmental component: a 3,000-gallon water recycling system that will save hundreds of gallons of water each day. Donated labor and equipment saved the Kiwanis $140,000.
The Kiwanis Club of Delphos did more than just raise funds. They united a community around a project and devoted thousands of club service hours to building a play area that the community can be proud of for generations. Seeing the smiles on the children’s faces when we complete a project makes all the work and sacrifice worth it….
