Letter to the Editor: How will a splash pad bring families and businesses to Newton?

I have to say that I am in total agreement with Randy Ervin on this whole splash pad debacle the city has dug itself into. At first I figured that if folks wanted a splash pad and private donors came up with the cash, then, hey, go for it. Now I learn that even after being promised by “some gentleman” at a city council meeting that this project “won’t cost the city a penny”, the city’s stake in this is now up to $245,000?? Who on earth had a lapse of judgement the day this boondoggle was approved?

And to put some rancid icing on this bitter cake, the city will be using funds from the stormwater utility fund to fix all the problems that have suddenly appeared out of nowhere with this foolish endeavour? Is this the city’s way of flipping Newton residents the bird?

When will the people of Newton wake up and say “enough is enough” with this council making bad decision after bad decision? Election day is coming up. Are there no adults in the room to tell some of these folks, “NO, you don’t need this!”? And, I’m still waiting for someone to explain just how this splash pad would bring families and businesses to Newton.

As for those donors who lament that they “really would like to see this project come to completion,” here’s my solution for them:

Do what our folks used to do when I was a kid. Get a sprinkler attachment for your garden hose and put it in the yard and turn it on so your kids can run around in it and splash around to their heart’s content. The city could even return your donations so you can buy a really nice sprinkler system for your kids.

There, problem solved.

John Moore

Newton