Splash pad in Newton makes big debut after years of community fundraising

From the moment the splash pad pumped out its first blasts of water at noon this past Friday until sundown that same night, the facility was packed full of families. The excited shrieks from kids feeling the cold water spray their faces and soak their hair was a sure sign to Erin Yeager that this project was the right move.

The executive director of Newton Main Street looked around. Kids were grinning from ear to ear while their parents or guardians watched from beneath shaded canopies. Community members arrived in tow to see the facility in action. It had been almost five years since the idea of a splash pad was introduced to Newton.

“It’s something our town has wanted and I’m glad to see young families are using it,” Yeager said at the facility on 224 W. 3rd St. N. “It’s not just young children. There are kids here who are 2 and there are kids who are 10 or 12 years old. Grandparents can even come and bring their children here.”

To commemorate the splash pad’s introduction to the community, the City of Newton, the Greater Newton Area Chamber of Commerce and Newton Main Street held a ribbon cutting. Attendance rivaled that of the Lundberg Family Mini-Pitch, which was also primarily funded by community donations.

The committee leading the project collected more than $417,000 for the splash pad, which was to be owned and operated by the city parks department. The Heitman and Van Hemert families introduced the idea to the park board back in December 2020, even going so far as to interview young families supporting it.

“When the two young families came to us at Main Street, this was something that was a needed amenity in our community,” Yeager said. “I didn’t think twice about helping them make this a reality. I’m never not going to try and make this happen … We were maybe $100 shy of $418,000 raised. That was huge.”

Newton Mayor Evelyn George praised the city’s parks department for constantly updating facilities and amenities for residents. She noted their achievements: Dog park improvements at Sunset Park. Play features at the Maytag Pool. The ever-popular pickleball courts at Aurora Park. The mini-pitch at Maytag Park.

George also gave credit to the two young families for not only introducing the idea but following through with it in such spectacular fashion.

“They exceeded their goal,” George said.

They said they wanted a splash pad. They said area kids would love it. They said it would give families something to do and be a relationship builder with other parents. They said it may even make people want to visit Newton more often. They said it could drive business to the downtown district and Legacy Plaza.

Time will tell if those latter parts are true. But one thing is certain: kids do love it.

Yeager said one family had even arrived at 10:50 a.m. to set out their lawn chairs and a blanket in preparation for the splash pad opening at noon.

“To me, right there that shows you they were excited about this,” she said.

Knowing the project was largely spearheaded by the community, Yeager said the splash pad’s creation speaks volumes. It shows the town wants this.

“It’s a free activity,” she told Newton News an hour after the ribbon cutting. “Not just Newton residents are going to use this. I was in a community — as a worker — knowing that people drove from other communities outside of that community to get to their splash pad. This started at noon and people are still here.”