Centralia City Councilor John Elmore walks through the splash pad during the Pearl Street Memorial Plaza ribbon cutting ceremony last June.
Members of the American Legion Post No. 17 raise the United States Marines flag during the Pearl Street Memorial Plaza ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday in Centralia.
A member of the American Legion Post No. 17 stands in the middle of the splash pad during the Pearl Street Memorial Plaza ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday in Centralia.
Mia May looks back at her family as she plays in the splash pad after the Pearl Street Memorial Plaza ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday in Centralia.
Centralia City Councilor Peter Abbarno runs through the splash pad during the Pearl Street Memorial Plaza ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday.
Centralia Mayor Bonnie Canaday (right) and S.T.O.P and Swim's Phoebe Slusher (left) cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the Pearl Street Memorial Plaza on Tuesday.
Centralia Mayor Bonnie Canaday speaks to the crowd during the ribbon cutting ceremony at the grand opening of the Pearl Street Memorial Plaza on Tuesday.
A young boy gets soaked in the middle of the Pearl Street Memorial Plaza during the ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday in Centralia.
As dozens of area children waited patiently for their summer fun at Centralia’s new Pearl Street Memorial Plaza to begin, Centralia city officials promised to continue work on the property at a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday evening.
“It does my heart good to see everyone here,” said Centralia City Councilor Joyce Barnes.
The spray park unofficially opened late last week in anticipation of the weekend’s heat wave.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Centralia Mayor Bonnie Canaday.
Canaday said her grandfather helped build the Pearl Street Pool in 1949 and 1950.
Canaday and other speakers commended the S.T.O.P (Save the Outdoor Pool) and Swim group for their hard work both fighting for the pool and raising funds for the projects.
“This is just the start,” she said.
Last month, the Centralia City Council voted to turn down grants from the state Recreation and Conservation Office’s Washington Wildlife and Recreation program for improvements needed to reopen the Pearl Street Pool, due to the requirement for the city to provide nearly $1 million in matching funds.
City staff plan to apply for funding again in the next grant cycle.
While the pool project is on hold, the city in September 2016 approved a $129,570 contract with Splash Zone, LLC, to build the spray park.
The project was funded with a $240,000 grant from the RCO, which included the construction of a restroom and mechanical building, benches, pergola, flagpole, landscaping and fencing. The park also has a playground area.
“This is phase 1. Phase 2 is coming up,” Barnes said.
After Barnes’ and Canaday’s comments, members of the American Legion Post 17 raised the U.S. Flag as well as flags honoring the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. Amy Buzzard sang the national anthem before the fountains were turned on and children and adults alike enjoyed popsicles and ran through the water.
