North Judson residents have a new place to cool off. The splash pad at Norwayne Field was formally turned on by town officials Saturday.
The opening followed years of planning. Town Council Member James Young spearheaded the effort. “It’s an incredible feeling to have the splash pad completed and know it’s going to be a great amenity for our community,” he says, “something for the kids to do, families to enjoy, and I think it’s going to be a great benefit for local businesses, as well.” Young says the town ended up saving around $30,000 by essentially serving as its own general contractor.
The splash pad includes a number of water features built into the concrete pad that activate when someone presses a blue button mounted off to the side.
But there are still more improvements to come. A restroom and shaded picnic area are set to be installed, funded in part by money the Constellation of Starke region got for being a finalist in the state’s 2019 Stellar Communities program.
Clerk-Treasurer Andrew Rowe says the town’s also begun raising money for new benches and tables, and a student art project is planned for the concrete around the nozzles. “Just their involvement, putting ownership into things is a big part of that,” Rowe adds. “We see that with the mural on the sidewalk. Kids take ownership in things and they’re a part of these projects now and they remember that.”
Plans are also in the works for more accessible parking and sidewalk connections to the rest of Norwayne Field.
