Public input is being sought for a proposed 3,500-square-foot splash park in Bristol Township’s Levittown section.
The park would be located in Policeman’s Park in the Indian Creek neighborhood and would be paid for – at least in part – through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, officials said.
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Joe Cianchetta, a landscape architect with Gilmore and Associates, explained during a presentation last week that the splash park would “not be replacing Sesame Place.”
The splash park would feature numerous water features, a paved trail, seating, fencing around the new water play area and educational signage, Cianchetta said.
In addition, there would be room for a future playground enhancement and a hummingbird and butterfly garden, he said.
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Ongoing costs to operate the splash park are estimated at $7,500 for maintenance and $2,500 in water expenses. Cianchetta said the water would be filtered and recycled, adding there would be no standing water.
As of last Thursday, 283 people had responded to an online township survey regarding the project. According to data, 67.86 percent of respondents showed “strong support” for the project, 15.36 percent “somewhat supported” the splash park, 5.36 percent are “neutral” and 11.42 percent “do not support” the splash park.
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“There’s definitely some strong interest there,” Assistant Township Manager Scott Swichar said.
The survey is online through March 31 and takes only a minute or two.
The entire project would cost approximately $700,000, but Township Manager Bill McCauley said they would “crunch some numbers”.
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McCauley said a camera and regular checks by township officials would keep the splash park secure.
Engineer Kurt Schroeder, who works for Gilmore and Associates, said Policeman’s Park has a water connection the splash park could use.
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A man who resides in Indian Creek stood before officials last week and called the proposal a “real bad idea.” He said a camera wouldn’t do the job of keeping the park clean and safe, mentioning litter is already at the basketball courts.
Another Indian Creek resident said she was conflicted about the park. While she liked the idea of the park, she raised concerns about security for parking, adding she found drug paraphernalia at the park last year.
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Policeman’s Park was formerly the site of a community pool that has since been closed.
