June 6, 2024
Summertime means kids are out of school and looking for things to do to enjoy their break. Thursday, May 23rd the ‘Splash Pad’ opened for children to enjoy for FREE. The Splash Pad is located behind the Boys and Girls Club on 606 Bernice St, Farmerville, La. Families can drop by between 10:00 am – 6:00 pm each day. If the water isn’t on just hit the button located on a pole in the center and get ready to get wet! This property has been named Unity Park.
“Meyer, Meyer, LaCroix, and Hixson engineer called to let me know there was a new grant available call “Love Louisiana Outdoors,” in 2021. I applied for a splash pad and we were awarded $225,000 to build the splash pad in December of 2021. We then tried to find a place to build it. Our first thought was to build it at the Willie Davis Recreation Center, but there wasn’t enough space. Our next step was to inquire about a piece of land on the north side of town close to the hospital, but the price was too high. John Crow, Town of Farmerville mayor thought of the land owned by Union Growth and Development, Inc. that was once the Farmerville Elementary/Jr. High property which is located at 606 Bernice Street.
After much discussion Union Growth and Development let us know they did not have the funds to remove the asbestos and tear down the old building and was uncertain as to what to do with it. They gladly sold the property to us so that it could be put to good use. We were awarded the grant and the design and bid process began. The Splash Pad was completed in October of 2023, which was too late to open so it was winterized. So we waited until this summer to open up and allow the children to enjoy” stated GayNell Pepper, with the Town of Farmerville.
“We are excited about things to come which will further promote safe places for our children and teens. The Boys and Girls opened in the fall of 2023 and now the Splash Pad this summer, there are some awesome future plans. We are looking forward to a Teen Center Gym to be added to the Boys and Girls Club, due to a grant that was awarded to the Town of Farmerville with the help of Senator Cassidy and Mary Barrios” stated Pepper.