Pictured is the splash pad at Wright Park in the city of Dunkirk. P-J file photo

While there may be snow on the ground, the city is taking further steps to ensure a bit of summer fun is on the horizon.

The Jamestown City Council this week authorized the purchase of equipment from Aquatix by Landscape Structures for splash pads at Allen Park and Jackson-Taylor Park. The funding, in the amount of almost $170,000 and coming from the city’s allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds, was previously approved by the City Council.

As noted by Councilwoman Kim Ecklund, R-At-Large, who also chairs the city’s Finance Committee, Monday’s approval was for the purchase of the splash pad equipment. Council members Bill Reynolds, R-Ward V, and Randy Daversa, R-At-Large, both voted no on the resolution.

Councilwoman Marie Carrubba, D-Ward IV, said the equipment will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“I appreciate the fact that it will be accessible to all individuals, including those with disabilities,” she said.

Splash pads in city parks have been on the agenda since 2019, when former Mayor Sam Teresi proposed the idea. They were then included in original American Rescue Plan Act funding plans by Mayor Eddie Sundquist, with final approval on the costs coming in March. There had been a delay after the project was formally approved by the council because necessary equipment was on backorder.

“We’ll try to get both sites while they’re here with the installer,” Sundquist said this past fall. “We also received all of the equipment not too long ago, a couple of weeks ago, that was on backorder.”

Wright Park in the city of Dunkirk currently has a popular splash pad.

As previously reported, the splash pads for Allen Park and Jackson-Taylor Park are scheduled to be installed early next spring.

In other business, the City Council:

-passed two resolutions Monday for engineering services for the replacement of the roof to the city Municipal Building. The city approved use of $25,000 in American Rescue Plan Act Lost Revenue funds toward the review to be conducted by Greenman-Peterson Inc.

Just this month, the Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene said it was looking at alternative locations in which to operate. The department is located on the fifth floor of the city Municipal Building, 200 E. Third St.

“There have been some issues you folks have heard about with environmental situations there – roof leak, stained ceiling tiles – that have resulted in some state citations for us that we’ve had to address,” said Trish McClennan, deputy director of Mental Hygiene and Social Services.

-approved a resolution to contract with Premium Parking Inc. for parking garage management services. Premium Parking has proposed a gateless parking technology component with a one-time cost of about $20,000 for new signage at the city’s parking ramps.

-authorized the mayor and police chief to participate in the Domestic Violence Intervention Program for one year with funding in the amount of $146,795 provided by the state.