TOLEDO, Ohio — The Rev. H.V. Savage Park and splash pad will undergo significant changes and construction in the coming months.
The current splash pad, which reopened in early July after a closure that spanned a record-breaking heat wave and several delays, will be demolished and replaced with a new one, according to the city of Toledo.
Toledo City Council on Wednesday approved $150,000 to design the new splash pad. An additional $1 million was requested through the American Rescue Plan Act and $2 million was requested through federal grants.
"The grant money is sufficient to do a splash pad," said Joe Fausnaugh, director of Toledo's parks and youth services. "If the recovery plan money comes through, it's just insurance that we will be able to do the splash pad."
However, that is not the only change coming to the park.
"We're looking at a new splash pad, installing a new, large, public meeting space like an open shelter, improving the playground, improving the ball field. In essence, we're looking at a brand new Savage Park," Fausnaugh said.
ARPA funding must be committed by the end of this year, according to the city. So to meet the deadline, the city would need to be under contract for splash pad construction by Dec. 31.
Fausnaugh said the city is trying to meet deadlines with the project while also ensuring the community is included.
"So, we'll come up with some ideas, we'll share those ideas with the community and take their feedback, and then move into final design. We hope to build out the construction of the splash pad in November," Fausnaugh said.
District 4 Councilwoman, Vanice Williams, said even without the grants, they expect to build something positive for the neighborhood.
"I think that a million dollars could get us a really good splash pad. It needs an upgrade, it's been there for twenty years, and the park has been a forgotten park," said Councilwoman Williams. "For the neighborhood, it's been a lifetime. That pool has been out of commission for a while. The park has not had a refresh like it needs to be. So, we're looking to make sure we have something impactful for the entire neighborhood to enjoy."
Fausnaugh said that come August, the team will have initial designs to share with the public and before breaking ground in November, the city will give the public opportunities to give feedback and adjust plans accordingly.
"In August, we'll have preliminary designs that we'll share with the public," Fausnaugh said. "The last thing I want to do is build something that the neighborhood and the junction doesn't want."
Though ready to begin, the end date of the project is currently unknown.
"We're just starting design, so if we got feedback from the public that's drastically different than our concepts, it would slow things down," Fausnaugh said.
Toledo City Council member Vanice Williams said she estimates the new splash pad and park to be completed in mid-2025.