Cookeville officials officially opened the city’s new splash pad and companion playground at Cane Creek Park during a Thursday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Leisure Services and Public Facilities Department Director Chad McDonald said the facility represents a significant investment in the local community and serves as a new hub for families. McDonald said the project required extensive commitment from the Cookeville City Council and city leadership to bring the vision to reality.
“These new amenities aren’t just a place to play, they’re an investment in our community, and they’ll be a new hub for fun, connection for families and children of all ages,” McDonald said.
McDonald said the facility utilizes a specialized system called aquavators to manage water consumption. The water fountain is designed to run for approximately 45 minutes to an hour before requiring a user to touch the sensors to restart the flow.
“It was really a joy to get started on this in this project that’s really something that will enhance this facility, all of Cane Creek Park in this area for years and years to come,” former Director of Leisure Services Rick Woods said. “And I’m glad it’s here today that we’re here to celebrate its opening.”
McDonald said the splash pad currently holds the title of the largest such facility in Tennessee. The project was designed by Kimley-Horn and constructed by FTM Fuel Tank Maintenance and Recreational Concepts.
Cookeville Mayor Laurin Wheaton and her children kicked off the fun at the splash pad by activating the water for the very first time.
“As a mom, this is something that is so important to me, that we have activities for our kids to do, and I could not be more proud of this splash pad and playground,” Wheaton said. “This fits perfectly within what the city wants to do, it fit within our budget and I think this is going to be something for years to come, kids both in size and big kids at heart can come enjoy.”
Cookeville City Manager James Mills said the park has seen numerous additions over the last two years with more projects expected to be announced soon. McDonald said a new restroom facility located next to the splash pad is currently under construction.
“Thank everybody for coming, it’s been a fantastic couple of years here at Cane Creek Park,” Mills said. “We’ve added a lot and there’s more things coming, we’ll be announcing those soon.”
McDonald said the new restroom facility is expected to be completed within six to eight weeks.
Dozens of children and families gathered for Thursday’s ribbon-cutting to be the first few to try out the new water park.
