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Greenfield considers adding Splash Pad to Riley swimming pool

GREENFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — The Greenfield city council will discuss expanding the city’s swimming pool Wednesday night. People in Greenfield say they’ve been asking for upgrades to Riley Pool for years.

“A lot of these pools around have got a lot more than what they offer here. Shelbyville is like a water park,” said Jim Spalding, who takes his grandchild to the pool several times a week.

The city has added rock-climbing walls in recent years, but not much else has changed.

“The pool has basically been the same…for as long as I can remember,” said Jillian Lennon.

After city leaders repeatedly heard the same complaints and suggestions from people, they decided to put together a committee to look at the possibilities. The committee decided a splash pad would be the best option. The Riley pool is surrounded by buildings already in use, making it difficult for the city to expand the pool.

“We’re not going to be able to tear any of those down or make any expansion that would be like a water park,” said Greenfield Mayor Chuck Fewell.

Fewell hopes to remodel part of the current space within the pool grounds and add a splash pad like the ones in Greenwood or Carmel.

“Keeping the old pool where it’s at, and [adding the] new addition on for the splash pad. I think it’s going to be used by every young person, and not only young people but adults like to walk through the water too. There will be different variations of water dropping, spraying, etc..” said Fewell.

City leaders have agreed to spend $30,000 and hire a firm to develop conceptual plans for the splash pad. Once those plans are finished and the council has an idea of how much the splash pad will cost, they will decide whether or not to move forward with the project.

“It’s going to be a very nice amenity and that’s what we want in the city to attract people to stay and to have the people happy,” said Fewell.

People at the pool told 24-Hour News 8 they liked the idea of a splash pad.

“It’s going to help the kids. It will make them want to come here more, which will keep them off the streets and keep them out of trouble,” said Spalding.

If the council approves the project, Fewell said the splash pad would be open for the 2018 season.

The city council meeting is Wednesday, July 27 at 7:00 p.m.