DUANE SHERRILLEditor

Splash Island will be looking sharper this coming swim season and will be a bit safer after the city agreed to contract with Slideways to service the facility’s slides at a cost of $167,329.

Parks and Recreation Director JP Kraft addressed the board of mayor and aldermen and told them that the slides are a “pretty big deal” at Splash Island and that during the 10 years of operation, the sun and elements have broken down the clear coat on the equipment.

“We’re at a point where we cannot do that anymore,” Kraft said of patching issues, noting that there is a chance kids could get fiberglass splinters in their hands. “We are going to have to reglaze the interior and may as well reglaze the exterior also. It’s definitely a safety issue.”

Kraft pointed out that they have a reserve account and the money for the project is budgeted in that account. He noted that the project will not only due the interior and exterior of the slides put it will redo the slide tower, specifically the staircase.

“It has been worn down from probably the 35,000 visitors a year that come to Splash Island,” he said, adding they put $3.5 million into the pool back in 2015. “If you think of it as having a car, this is kind of like putting new tires on your car. We need to get a few more miles out of the $3.5 million.

Alderman Bobbie Wilson agreed the price tag comes with sticker shock but it has to be done.

“I know it’s a shocking price but Splash Island is such an asset to our community,” she said.

Alderman Kurt Glick agreed. “When you think of it, that’s 370,000 people over 10 years and that’s less than 50 cents a visitor,” he pointed out. “I think it’s a good deal.”

In the official request submitted by parks and rec, it was explained that the waterslides installed in 2015 in the $4 million construction of Splash Island have become etched and stranded due to ten years of wear and weather. In that time, chlorinated water and the sun have faded the outside of the waterslides and have worn away the protective layer that protects the fiberglass. The composite staircase treads leading to the slide tower decking have also become worn from use and have become a hazard.

To prevent injury, the interior and exterior of the slides must be re-gel coated. This falls in line with normal wear and tear of waterpark features. The spiral staircase would be prepped, repainted, and new non-skid coating would be applied to all traffic surfaces.

Slideways, a waterpark restoration company, based in Englewood, Colorado opened a location in

 Nashville several years back and has serviced the waterslides at Splash Island previously repairing slide joints and leaks. Slideways has quoted restoration of the three waterslides and slide tower at $167,329 and can meet the Memorial Day deadline.

The project was approved 7-0 by the board of mayor and aldermen.