Downtown Splash Park Discussion Delayed

Discussions to build a splash park near  in downtown St. Pete have been delayed after a vote by City Council on Thursday. 

Council member Karl Nurse, who brought the new business item to the council, said the splash park could be modeled after the one built in Dell Holmes Park, which cost $275,000.

Nurse said the splash park would be an attraction for children and families in downtown, which he said the city is currently missing. It could also help connect downtown to the new "Lens" pier. 

"Downtown really has a shortage of things that children can do," Nurse said. "I'm not suggesting that we put this in the plan, let's start by saying 'here’s what something would look like.'"

Nurse wanted to refer the item to the Budget, Finance and Taxation Committee for review, but the motion to move the item to committee failed 3-5. 

Councilors Bill Dudley and Leslie Curran said they were uncomfortable moving forward with any discussions about the splash park when the city is in the middle of developing its waterfront master plan and having  design/programming. 

"I like the idea, my only reservation is that we are in the middle of doing a waterfront master plan," Dudley said. "And I think by going ahead and doing something like this might be contrary to what our master plan (would be)."

Curran said the splash park might be a "fabulous" idea, but "we have asked the public to come to us to help us finalize, tweak, formulate (a design) for the 'Lens', which also includes the Hub area."

"We need to go in with a clean slate and ask the people what do you want this to be," Curran added. "What do you want added or tweaked."

Nurse said the splash park could be paid for with Weeki Wachee funds. 

Council member Steve Kornell said using Weeki Wachee funds for a splash park makes sense and it would not put the "Lens" over budget. The Week Wachee funds, he said, are for parks. 

"I’m not against the idea, but I’d like to put it off as well," Kornell said. "Creating a park at the pier on some of those uplands could make a lot of sense," but the city needs public input first, Kornell said.