Kennewick Park Water 'Pads' Won't Open Memorial Weekend

The City of Kennewick Parks and Rec Department issued a statement going into Friday, with a news release, and on their Facebook page.

Traditionally, one of the fun rites of summer is the opening of the four 'splash pad' water features at the four different parks. They include Grange Park on Union, Underwood Park on 7th Ave, the Southridge Sports Complex, and Columbia Park.

But this year, that won't be happening Memorial Weekend as it always has:

"Our four City splash pads normally open Memorial Day weekend, but due to current State guidelines and restrictions, we are unable to open our splash pads as it sits today. We remain hopeful the State will remove some of the reopening barriers and allow us to safely open our splash pads. City parks crews have been preparing to open the splash pads and will be ready to do so when given the green light."

The WSDOH specifically mentions "stand-alone splash parks" as part of it's "guidance:"

"Standalone splash park, for the purpose of this document, is defined as “a spray pool with no standing water (as defined in WAC 246-260-010(70)) that is not part of the same enclosure with other Water Recreation Facilities, and it is often owned and operated by a municipality and provided in locations such as public parks that the general public has access to, typically with no admission fee or membership requirement.”

This is part of a 24-page document that just covers water parks and related facilities by themselves. It's easy to see the headaches state officials create for cities and citizens. 24 pages of arcane rules. We understand the need for safety, but after reading this document your head will explode.