By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Two of the large projects scheduled to be completed with the Great Bend Quality of Life sales tax are improvements at the Brit Spaugh Park and a splash pad at Veterans Memorial Park. Initially, plans included getting Brit Spaugh finished first, but the $2 million project still has a deficit in funding so the city is now focusing on the splash pad installation.
Interim City Administrator Logan
Burns said there is enough funding already for the splash pad and the hope is
to have the feature constructed by Memorial Day 2024.
"Originally, the project was put in there around the $250,000 range," said Burns. "After seeing some of the models and presentations of what that kind of money buys, personally I didn't feel like that was the community wanted in a splash pad. We are looking something in that $650,000 range. I think that really encompasses what the public was expecting from project that."
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The splash pad will on the north part of Vets Park, on the north side of the
restrooms. Trying to make the splash pad a destination attraction, the
dimensions were suggested at 76' x 72'.
The city is proceeding with Brit Spaugh Park drawings to construct a basketball
court, pickleball courts, soccer pitches and a playground but will wait to see
if more private donations are received.
The .15% quality of life sales tax is expected to generate $608,000 per year.