West Goshen Township's Board of Supervisors has approved a $382,716 splash pad for West Goshen Community Park, with the new water feature expected to open by summer 2027.
The township announced the approval on its website Wednesday, Aug. 19, alongside an update that the park's family bathroom expansion is nearly finished after construction began in late March.
Carroll Engineering Corporation is finalizing design plans for the splash pad, which will sit west of the existing basketball courts. The project has been in the works since 2022, when the Board authorized Carroll Engineering to conduct a feasibility study on placement and stormwater management.
What the splash pad looks like
The design, presented by Will Hemler of General Recreation at a May 13 meeting with the Park and Recreation Board, features 14 water features across three zones labeled Gentle, Universal and Dynamic. The pad covers 1,964 square feet, with a total hardscape area of 3,772 square feet including an apron.
All equipment uses passive spray heads with no moving parts, which the township says minimizes long-term maintenance. The system will run on potable water rather than a recirculating system, operating on a timer. Township Manager Christopher Bashore suggested hours of approximately 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The splash pad will not be staffed or fenced.
At the April 7 supervisors meeting, a conservative estimate for annual water usage costs was placed at approximately $90,000, according to meeting records.
Grant funding covers much of the cost
The township has secured $510,500 in grants from Pennsylvania and Chester County sources since 2023 for Community Park improvements. That includes a $60,500 grant from state Sen. Carolyn Comitta, administered through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, specifically for the splash pad.
In a June 18 newsletter, Bashore wrote that the township had "been working to secure funding for the improvements to West Goshen Community Park that are underway and have been successful in securing $510,500 through Pennsylvania and Chester County resources."
Bathroom expansion wrapping up
The family bathroom expansion, also partially grant-funded, is expected to be completed shortly, according to the Aug. 19 update. That project had originally been projected for early July completion. Restroom access remains restricted during the final phase of construction.
No specific completion date has been announced.
Residents can check westgoshen.org for updates on both projects. The Park and Recreation Department can be reached at 610-696-5266.
