Patrons of the Franklin Pool will see a new addition for the 2018 season.

Elizabethton Parks and Recreation staff and the crew with Rich Construction, based out Knoxville, went through a test run for the recently constructed splash pad located at the former location of the facility’s baby pool.

Parks & Rec Director Mike Mains and Recreation Manager David Nanney were on site and praised the efforts of Rich Construction and the maintenance staff for having the pieces in place to get the splash pad in a position to be used by the public. The only thing that remains for the new addition is inspection and it is expected to be ready to go for the pool’s Memorial Day weekend opening.

With the splash pad taking the place of the baby pool, it will be available to patrons visiting the pool. A goal for the department, according to Mains, is to acquire funding in the future to possibly have another splash pad at a recreational area within the community.

A project roughly two years in the making, the Elizabethton Star reported in late 2016 that Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, Sen. Rusty Crowe, Rep. John Holsclaw and Rep. Timothy Hill announced the city had received a Local Park and Recreation Fund grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conversation. The 50-50 matching grant was worth $100,000.

The Franklin Pool splash pad is also expected to save costs compared to other alternatives. With the water being circulated through the pool and back into the pad, city officials estimated roughly over $100,000 worth of savings since there were no additional items needed to facilitate the pad.

Nanney added the department is excited to provide the new addition to the public and that Parks & Rec will continue looking at different ways to attract the public to utilize the resources within the community.

To learn more about the different events going on with the department, visit their website or call (423) 547-6441.