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One Fresno Splash Park Fixed. Two to Go.
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By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 6 years ago on
June 5, 2019

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Update, 6/05/19, 5:10 p.m.: The city reports that the splash pad at Todd Beamer Park is up and running.
Says city spokesman Mark Standriff: “Todd Beamer splash pad is now running, thanks to an industrious staff member who salvaged parts from another pump to repair the broken one. We’ll replace it when the new pump arrives in 2 weeks.”
Original story: 
With temperatures turning to the triple digits, nearly half of Fresno’s seven splash parks are out of commission.
Only four of the splash pads are operational. As schools end the year and the mercury rises, parents and city councilmembers wonder when the water wonder-ways will return to normal.
The parks are open seven days a week. For now, the hours are 12 p.m. through 6 p.m. Beginning June 8, the hours expand from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Aug. 11.

A Hot Day at Todd Beamer


“(The water park) is very important. Because we don’t have a pool, it’s the best way to stay cool.” Janae Carlson, mother
Parents at Todd Beamer Park in northeast Fresno hoped their little ones could cool off today with the toy cannons, buckets, and foot pads as the thermometer read 91 degrees.
A broken pump has the water playground turned off. A specialty part is on order from Canada.
Janae Carlson took her son Rhett to the park, traveling from Kerman. Her parents live in Fresno.
“(The water park) is very important. Because we don’t have a pool, it’s the best way to stay cool,” she said.
While the initial estimate had the splash pad opening in two weeks, councilman Garry Bredefeld is hopeful the water would return no later than Friday.
“Why do we want these dry? We want them fully operational and full of water. It’s disappointing,” Bredefeld said.
Bredefeld hopes that in the future the city has spare parts ready to go.

Other Parks Down

Electrical issues shuttered Inspiration Park in west Fresno and the Mosqueda Center in the southeast part of town. There is no timeline for those to return to operation, according to city spokesman Mark Standriff.
Meanwhile, councilwoman Esmeralda Soria — just like Bredefeld — says the quicker repairs are made, the better for families.
“(The parks department) is working on getting the splash pads back online as fast as they can. As far as Inspiration Park, the vendor has to do the maintenance because of warranty provisions,” said Soria, whose district includes Inspiration Park.
The good news is, the splash pad at Fig Garden Loop Park, in northwest Fresno, is working again after being closed Sunday.

The Four Open Splash Pads


Key: green open; red closed
Families looking to cool off can do so at these four parks where the splash pads are up and running:

  • Dickey Playground, 50 N. Calaveras St.
  • Figarden Loop Park, 4265 W. Figarden Dr.
  • Martin Ray Reilly Park, 750 N. Chestnut Ave.
  • Vinland Park – 4695 E. Gettysburg Ave.

Challenging Parks Leadership

T.J. Miller
At Monday’s city budget hearings, Soria pointed a finger at the parks department’s turnover in leadership.
“I’ve been very frustrated that this department … the instability of leadership impacts the delivery of services,” Soria said. “I’m concerned that we’ll continue this vicious circle.”
T.J. Miller is the interim parks director. She was tapped after Parvin Neloms Jr. left for unexplained reasons in March. City manager Wilma Quan said that Miller will likely serve until early 2020, allowing a national search for Neloms’ successor.
 

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David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

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