Splashing into reality: Splash pad officially opens at McGregor’s Turner Park
Adam Jacobsen was one of the first kids to enjoy the Turner Park Splash Pad when it opened last Wednesday. (Photo by Audrey Posten)
Henry Mullarkey and Evelyn Fettkether marveled at the water shooting out of the splash pad features.
The city of Marquette donated $20,000 toward the Turner Park Splash Pad. Last week, city clerk Bonnie Basemann and mayor Steve Weipert (left) presented the check to McGregor mayor Lyle Troester and Turner Park committee members Janet Hallberg, Megan Beisker and Maria Brummel.
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
After several years of fundraising and two months of construction, the splash pad at McGregor’s Turner Park finally opened to the public on Aug. 12. Local kids were on-hand for the event, shrieking with glee as water began shooting out of the fun, colorful features. Turner Park, which is located off West Main Street next to the Great River Care Center, has been busy every day since, with families eager to cool off during the last days of summer.
The splash will be open daily, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., through mid-September. When families arrive, they can activate the splash pad by pressing two buttons—each button operates one half of the splash pad. After 15 minutes, the buttons must be pushed again to keep the water running. Water will not run when the splash pad is not in use.
Children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult when they visit the splash pad. Participants must conduct themselves in a courteous, safe and family-oriented manner. Climbing, hanging or sitting on equipment is prohibited, as is rough housing or violent play. Do not enter the splash pad if you have a communicable disease or open cut.
No food or glass containers are permitted on the splash pad, and people are reminded to throw away any garbage. Infants must wear swim diapers. Pets are not allowed on the splash pad unless they are service animals. Pool toys, skateboards, roller blades, bicycles and other wheeled toys are also not allowed.
The splash pad is unsupervised, and the city of McGregor is not responsible for any accidents. If you have questions, please contact city hall at (563) 873-3795 or message the “Turner Park: Fitness for All Ages” Facebook page.
The splash pad is just the latest project completed at Turner Park in the past five years. After a small tornado hit the park in 2013, damaging trees and equipment, a committee formed to begin planning improvements to attract more families. Since then, a quarter-mile track was added around the park’s perimeter and new playground equipment was installed. Upgrades were also made to the football/baseball field.
And this marks the completion of only the first phase of the splash pad project. The Turner Park Committee’s fundraising efforts are still ongoing. The orange dot ground sprays on the splash pad represent additional features that can be installed on the concrete pad in the future. There are also plans to update the Turner Park bathrooms.
