Cookeville closing the Cane Creek Park Splash Pad Sunday, ending an inaugural season that attracted visitors from across the region.
Cookeville Leisure Services Director Chad McDonald said the city intended from the beginning to extend the splash pad’s season as far into the fall as conditions permitted.
“I was out there last week and it was in the 70s and there were people out there playing in the water,” McDonald said. “So we’re glad that we’re able to keep it open for those, those mild days when kids still want to play in the water.”
McDonald said the city has now reached the point where staff need enough time to prepare the facility for winter. McDonald said the playground beside the Cane Creek splash pad remains open year-round. The Heart of the City Playground at Dogwood Park is also expected to reopen near the end of October following installation of new surfacing.
“Just looking at those overnight temperatures,” McDonald said. “This past weekend, especially, we were in the mid 30s and this week still looks nice.”
McDonald said winterization takes two to three days to complete and is designed to prevent cold-weather damage.
“There are lots of spray heads and water features that need to be, um, be blown out so that all the water is out of those features and that it doesn’t freeze and cause cracks in and some of that stuff,” McDonald said.
McDonald said the department also has its first season of operation to use as a guide when planning future splash pad seasons.
“Well, we view it as extremely successful,” McDonald said. “We’ve had lots and lots of people out at the splash pad and the playground, which is right next to the splash pad, all summer long from Cookeville and from all around the area.”
McDonald said visitors this summer came from Nashville, McMinnville and Sparta in addition to Cookeville. Future opening and closing dates will remain flexible, with the city planning to reopen the splash pad sometime in April when conditions permit.
The Dogwood Park fountain operates on a fixed April 1-October 31 schedule. McDonald said its design creates a different winter concern than the Cane Creek splash pad.