By Joe Bachman

WISCONSIN RAPIDS — A long-awaited splash pad at Mead Park is slated to break ground on May 3.

A bid was awarded to Wisconsin Rapids-based Eagle Construction Company for $474,500 at Tuesday’s Finance & Property Committee meeting. A $550,000 grant by the Legacy Foundation has secured funding for the project, which is hopeful for a late-July open. The groundbreaking has been scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on that Wednesday.

“It’s nice to see these dollars circulated right back into our community,” said Mayor Zach Vruwink.

An additional $22,000 will be paid out in 2017 bond proceeds and used for furnishings at the park such as tables, benches, waste and bike racks. This is on top of another $122,000 that the city will spend to make a direct purchase from Vortex Equipment for spray features used in the splash pad.

Mead Field is located at 311 17th Ave. South.