New Albany spray park unlikely to open this summer

The New Albany spray park at the BNA Park sportsplex will almost certainly not open this summer, due to safety issues.

City officials asked Aqua Construction of Memphis to examine and evaluate the spray park. Building Inspector Eric Thomas reported to aldermen Tuesday that the company recommended tearing the spray park down and starting over.

He said the facility likely does not meet code and the slide is unsafe. The evaluation was that spending money on repairs would essentially be wasted.

“It breaks my heart not to be able to open it this year,” Mayor Tim Kent said. “I feel like we will rebuild it, either with or without a slide, but it would be tough to get it this year.”

The spray park has been a popular attraction, drawing visitors from surrounding counties as well as local residents. Some of those who come from other areas have cited the water slide as the main reason.

The spray park has a somewhat troubled history. Ward Three Alderman Tommie Beasley pushed the idea for several years as a recreational opportunity in lieu of a public swimming pool.

City officials did eventually vote for it but once construction began, problems with a contractor arose.

The spray park ended up costing nearly $300,000 and has experienced persistent maintenance problems because of the way pump equipment was installed.

Thomas reported that constructing a new comparable spray park could cost $500,000 to $700,000 and no clear source for such a significant capital project has been offered. Tourism tax money could be used but much of that revenue is already earmarked each year.

There was an informal consensus that perhaps a decision should be deferred to July when a new board of aldermen takes office.

The current aldermen did say they realized the spray park’s popularity and disappointment that it is not open.