PHOTO #1: The Ethel Lee Tracy Park splash pad is closed for repairs.
The Ethel Lee Tracy Park splash pad is closed while Parks & Recreation works with the manufacturer to address a problem with the splash pad’s recirculation system.
Parks & Recreation is working with the manufacturer to determine the cause of the problem and find a solution.
“When a splash pad breaks down, often it needs to be addressed with proprietary equipment that is used exclusively by the manufacturer,” said Parks & Recreation Assistant Director Kimberly Zygmant.
Staff estimated that the splash pad could reopen within the next two months, although the time frame will depend on the manufacturer’s availability and the nature of the malfunction.
Lone Tree Creek splash pad remains open
PHOTO #2: The Lone Tree Creek splash pad must be turned on using the activator switch near the gate.
In the meantime, residents can visit the Lone Tree Creek splash pad, 4009 E. Airline Road.
Residents are reminded that Victoria’s splash pads are activated by a push-button system that turns off when the splash pad is not in use. If the water at the splash pad is not running, residents should press the activator switch.
Community Center splash pad to reopen soon
Parks & Recreation staff anticipate that the Community Center splash pad will reopen by the end of this month as staff complete final repairs at the site.
Like the Ethel Lee Tracy Park splash pad, the Community Center splash pad had repair needs that had to be addressed by a specific company, which contributed to project delays.
The splash pad first closed during the pandemic along with the City’s other splash pads. It did not reopen because staff discovered that leaks below the surface had damaged the foundation and eroded the area beneath the splash pad, causing it to sink.
The company that installed the splash pad repaired the damage and leveled the splash pad. These repairs did not start until March 2023 due to issues with the company’s availability.
Stay connected
To report an issue at a splash pad, contact Parks & Recreation at 361-485-3200 or use the Victoria Texas 311 app.
For more information about Parks & Recreation facilities, visit www.victoriatx.gov/parks.
UPDATED JUNE 3 FOR CLARIFICATION:
The decision to close a splash pad is not something we take lightly. We know our splash pads are an important resource for our residents and their families, and we do everything in our power to keep them open, only closing them because of issues that present safety concerns.
The closure of the Ethel Lee Tracy Park splash pad was not due to a lack of maintenance or preparation. It was because of a sudden malfunction of the water recirculation system. This issue arose suddenly during the season, after the splash pad had already opened and appeared to be functioning normally. Staff have been troubleshooting this issue since early April while keeping the splash pad open for our residents; however, the problem has now gotten worse and is affecting our ability to keep the water clean, which is a safety hazard. Therefore, the splash pad is being closed out of an abundance of caution.
Splash pads (all splash pads, not just the ones in Victoria) are like specialized cars: major issues can only be addressed by the manufacturer. We can fix smaller problems in-house and have been attempting to do so, but this specific problem with the water recirculation system needs to be addressed by the manufacturer.
Parks & Recreation does test splash pads before the start of the season, although we have a limited window to do so because the splash pads are winterized during the off-season and therefore cannot be tested until March, when the weather gets consistently warmer. Furthermore, this issue would not have been caught by testing because it was an equipment malfunction that arose suddenly.
We apologize again for this inconvenience. We are in constant communication with the manufacturer to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. We hope that our residents looking to stay cool will visit the Lone Tree Creek splash pad or the YMCA swimming pool, with whom we’ve partnered to allow nonmembers to swim at certain times: https://victoriatx.gov/794/YMCA-Open-Swim-Times. For more information about Parks facilities as well as upcoming events, visit https://victoriatx.gov/158/Parks-Recreation.