By Joe Bachman

WISCONSIN RAPIDS  — Aquatics is finally back at Mead Field.

City leaders gathered this afternoon for a celebratory ribbon cutting in a soft-opening of the Mead Splash Pad. This culminates part of the the $800,000 project, $575,000 of which was donated by the Legacy Foundation. Over a hundred residents and excited children turned out for the event, including city alderpersons, MSA Services staff, members of the Chamber of Commerce, and of course, Mayor Zach Vruwink.

(City Times Photo)

“This goes without saying that this is a momentous occasion for city,” said Vruwink. “…investments in family-friendly amenities like these keep young families in our community, attract young families to our community, and for those of us who have family out of town, we bring those families back to town on occasion.”

(City Times Photo)

The splash pad was designed in part by Mead Elementary students, who were invited to city hall to give input and ultimately decide what the splash pad would look like. This includes the decision to include such features as the giant spider, flower, plant and a bullfrog, which is now placed in the center of the splash pad.

While the end of summer is closing in, the splash pad will be open when weather permits until fall. Spring construction is slated to include such future amenities and features as new baseball fields, playgrounds for ages 5-12 and 2-5, rent-able shelters, new tennis courts, new trails with bike amenities, optional synthetic field, and batting cages.

“It truly, overall, helps the well-being of our city, and I’m really proud of what city council and city staff, and all of us were able to do together to bring things like this to reality in the city.” said Vruwink.