By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
McKenzie, Tenn.—Just in time for the hottest part of the summer, the downtown McKenzie Splash Pad will be opening to the public at 10 a.m. Friday. And it’s free.
The Splash Pad is located on city-owned property near the depot downtown and is funded with a matching Local Parks and Recreation Grant (LPRG) from the state. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and with possible shorter hours on Sundays.
McKenzie Mayor Jill Holland told WENK/WTPR the grand opening will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday for city employees and all of the people who have worked on the Splash Pad. She said a ribbon-cutting and ‘very short’ remarks from herself and other city officials will be presented. “We’ll be talking very briefly because we know the employees are bringing all their kids and they’ll be eager for us to turn it on,” she said.
The Thursday night event will be held in conjunction with the Nights on Broadway, which begins at 7 p.m. in downtown McKenzie. The popular Paris band, The Barons, will be performing and all the activities are held around the park on Broadway.
“It will be nice that we’re having both of these events the same night,” Holland said. “People can walk back and forth from the Splash Pad then one block over to Broadway for the music and other things that will be going on.”
The Splash Pad is one segment of a long-term plan for downtown which includes a skate board park and disc golf. Other segments of the downtown plan, the Farmer’s Market and the Park Theater, already have been opened.
Other area cities have downtown Splash Pads, including Martin, Ripley, Selmer and Savannah.
Photo: City employees testing the Splash Pad operation this morning. (McFarlin photo).
McKenzie Mayor Jill Holland told WENK/WTPR the grand opening will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday for city employees and all of the people who have worked on the Splash Pad. She said a ribbon-cutting and ‘very short’ remarks from herself and other city officials will be presented. “We’ll be talking very briefly because we know the employees are bringing all their kids and they’ll be eager for us to turn it on,” she said.
The Thursday night event will be held in conjunction with the Nights on Broadway, which begins at 7 p.m. in downtown McKenzie. The popular Paris band, The Barons, will be performing and all the activities are held around the park on Broadway.
“It will be nice that we’re having both of these events the same night,” Holland said. “People can walk back and forth from the Splash Pad then one block over to Broadway for the music and other things that will be going on.”
The Splash Pad is one segment of a long-term plan for downtown which includes a skate board park and disc golf. Other segments of the downtown plan, the Farmer’s Market and the Park Theater, already have been opened.
Other area cities have downtown Splash Pads, including Martin, Ripley, Selmer and Savannah.
Photo: City employees testing the Splash Pad operation this morning. (McFarlin photo).