The city’s second splash pad is up and running – mostly.

Mayor Kim Ecklund told City Council members on Monday that the Allen Park splash pad is now operational after a needed part came last week. She credited Mark Roetzer, interim city public works director, with quickly getting the new part installed so the splash pad could be used with warm summer temperatures hitting the area.

“It is open, thanks to Mark and his team and the vendor,” Ecklund said. “They did really expedite a part to come in, and the part is in. However there still is a malfunction with it so it is open on a trial basis. So somebody could be there right now and it could be on, two hours ago it might have been off because there’s still some work with it.”

City officials didn’t announce the splash pad was operational because they wanted to make sure the kinks were worked out once the part was installed. Ecklund said it’s her goal to make sure the Allen Park splash pad is available throughout the summer.

Roetzer told council members the issue isn’t with the splash pad itself but with a timer that is supposed to turn the water on and off when the splash pad is supposed to be open. Because the timer isn’t working properly a city employee has to turn the water on and off manually.

“We haven’t seen any issues with it,” Roetzer said. “It’s ran for four days now. The issues we have are inside the building, so on the outside it looks normal. The issue really is with the timer, so we have to have somebody come in and turn it on. That’s the issue we’re having. So it will be fixed. There may be a time somebody might show up to the splash pad and they’re working on fixing that issue in the building. We’re hoping to keep it on through the summer.”

Rules for the splash pads include:

Supervision: Always supervise children while they are using the splash pad to ensure their safety.

Respect for Others: Be considerate of other visitors by sharing the space and following all posted rules for the park.

Cleanliness: Help us maintain a clean environment by using the provided trash bins in the park. Please ensure all items brought to the Splash Pad are taken home.

Facilities: Restroom facilities are conveniently located onsite at the park for your use.

Footwear: Children should wear water shoes to prevent slipping and protect their feet.

Health Precautions: Do not use the Splash Pad if you or your child are feeling unwell or have open wounds.

Hydration: Ensure children stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, especially on hot days.

No Running: Remind children not to run around the Splash Pad to avoid slips and falls.

Sun Protection: Apply sunscreen to children regularly to protect them from sunburn.

No Food or Drink: Keep food and drinks away from the Splash Pad area to maintain cleanliness and safety. Picnic Tables and a Pavilion are readily available at the park.

No Glass Containers: Avoid bringing glass containers to the splash pad area to prevent breakage and injury.

Report Issues: Notify the Parks Department immediately of any hazards, broken equipment, or safety concerns. The Park Department can be reached by calling (716) 483-7523.

Ecklund also said the city has ordered new signs for city parks that will include updates the council passed recently regarding smoking in public places. She said there have been many public complaints, including regarding splash pad behavior, that the signs will address.

“A lot of those signs throughout all of our parks and we’ve received a lot of complaints just in general about smoking in the parks and things like that, you know, dogs on the splash pads,” Ecklund said. “If anyone should ask you, those things are coming. The splash pad is a sequential process. They put the seeding down, the signs will be up. It’s going to all come to play, but the major park signage for no smoking and all that is being revised based on your approval of the changes last month.”