The city of Independence has awarded the bid for its splash pad project to Ford Development Corporation to kick off site preparation for its new splash pad.
The Independence City Council unanimously approved the bid for site preparation for $349,120 at its regular meeting on Sept. 8.
“After years of talking about our splash pad, knowing this is the year it was going to happen, going through the highs and the lows and everything else, we are going to get started on some actual tangible work,” said Independence Mayor Chris Reinersman.
The idea for a splash pad began in May 2024. The splash pad is going in Memorial Park, located at 2001 Jackwoods Parkway.
“This would be one of the bids. This is to get the site ready, and then we’ll come to you later on with another bid for the actual installation of the equipment,” said Independence City Administrator Chris Moriconi.
The city said it has already purchased the equipment for approximately $350,000. Reinersman estimated the city was about $700,000 in on the $1.2 million project. The city had initially estimated $500,000 for the project in May 2024; however, the original site in Memorial Park was not feasible, and the new location in the park will require site work.
The new proposed area in the park, located near the playground equipment, is situated on a hill and will require leveling and the installation of retaining walls, which are part of the total project cost. Reinersman said Ford Development Corporation was familiar with the city’s park and familiar with holding back hills.
“We just met today with the local business, we continue to work for sponsorships in some way, whether making it naming rights or other sponsorship levels for this, we’ll continue to work on that path,” Reinersman said.
The city had applied for a grant from the RC Durr Foundation to go toward the splash pad, but Reinersman said during the meeting that the city did not get it.
Though the goal is not to tap into the city’s reserves for the remaining $600,000 needed for the project, the city council did vote unanimously at its June 2 meeting to approve that route should the grant and sponsorships fall through.
Reinersman said the splash pad will be conveniently located in the park near parking and the restrooms.
“It will be right smack in the middle of the park,” Reinersman said. “You can sit there at party in the park, taking in the show and watching your kids up there in the splash pad, or see it from the pickleball courts or wherever.”
According to the city, during its June 2 meeting, it would like to complete the project by Memorial Day 2026.
