By Emily Ford
eford@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Keshun Laney, 8, ran through the water at the new splash pad at Lincoln Pool Friday, stopping only long enough to share his favorite feature.
“I like the sprinkley,” Keshun said.
He dashed off again before he could clarify which of the shoots, squirts and sprays was the “sprinkley,” joining about a dozen other children who alternated between the splash pad and the swimming pool on a hot summer afternoon.
Most of the children who played on the pad were under 10, and mother Brandi Ellis said she’s pleased the city has offered an alternative to the pool.
“This is a good addition because of the smaller kids,” said Ellis, who brought her 8-year-old daughter, Briana Nichols, and nieces, India Connor, 7, and Ashira Morris, 5, to the facility at 110 Old Concord Road.
The free splash pad at Dan Nicholas Park is too far away for many kids who live in the public housing projects around Lincoln Pool, Ellis said.
“Most parents don’t have cars, so this is good for the inner city,” she said. “They can walk or ride their bike.”
The splash pad is smaller than planned.
The city couldn’t raise the $185,000 needed for the original design, so staff scaled it back to a 30-foot pad with seven spray features to stay within an $87,000 budget, parks and recreation Director Gail Elder White said.
The city kicked in $45,000, with $42,000 coming from the railroad as a reward for closing the Horah Street crossing.
The splash pad cost $70,000. The remaining $17,000 covered deck replacement, new skimmers to prevent water leaks and a hydraulic lift to allow people with disabilities to use the pool.
Adding the splash pad is the first of four phases in the Lincoln Pool master plan. In phase two, the city will build a large outdoor swimming pool at the nearby Civic Center on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, which will require significant grant money.
In phase three, the city will fill in the pool at Lincoln and add more splash pads. Finally, in phase four, the city will turn the Lincoln facility into a full-fledged park.
Lincoln Pool and splash pad hours:
• Monday 1-5 p.m.
• Tuesday and Thursday 3:30-6 p.m.
• Wednesday, Friday and Saturday noon-5 p.m.
• Sunday 1-5 p.m.
The pool and splash pad will close for the season Aug. 19.
Fees are $1 for youth (17 and younger) and $2 for adults. Monthly passes are available for $20 (youth) and $30 (adults).
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.