Numerous Leitchfield officials and community members recently attended the successful ribbon-cutting and opening of the pavilion and splash pad at Firefighter Park on Monday, May 20.
Located on Brandenburg Road in Leitchfield, the Firefighter Park’s new additions were paid for by revenue earned from the Restaurant Tax and designed for the purpose of offering a free form of recreation for the public, according to Leitchfield Tourism Director Ilsa Johnson.
Local resident Vanessa Embry, who was in attendance at the grand opening said she felt the splash pad is “great for the kids, especially on hot summer days - gives them [a way] to cool off.”
The splash pad operates on a foot sensor that, when stepped on, releases water from spouts, which first take turns spraying water, then spray all together, Johnson said.
On the turnout at the splash pad’s opening, Johnson said, “I think it’s absolutely perfect. The children’s faces say it all.”
Echoing Johnson’s sentiment, City Council Member Steven Elder said how he felt when he saw “the kids out there splashing around in the water was one of the best feelings I’ve had in a long time.”
Prior to the pavilion’s ribbon-cutting, Leitchfield Mayor William Thomason gave an opening speech to commemorate the grand opening, in which he spoke of his pride in bringing “the dream” of the Firefighter Park to life.
Also in his speech, Thomason thanked Wilma Tilford for the suggestion of honoring firefighters, the firefighters themselves for their service to the community, the City Council members and Tourism commissioners who supported the project, Leitchfield Fire Chief Carl “Moon” Smith, and City Public Works Director Darrell Harrell for their efforts on making the project a success.
The cheerful atmosphere of the event was broken briefly when the subject of the recent vandalism at Firefighter Park was discussed.
The rise in local vandalism has led Mayor Thomason and his wife, Carolyn Thomason, to offer, out of their own money, a $1,000 reward to anyone with information that would result in the conviction individual(s) involved in the vandalism.
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