Splash pad closes temporarily for construction

GEOFFREY WOEHLK/THE FORUM
Installation of new equipment, including swings, benches, tables and a spinner as seen above, began at the Thomson Splash ‘N’ Play this week.

MARYVILLE, Mo. — The Thomson Splash ‘N’ Play shut down temporarily on Monday for construction, but Maryville Parks and Recreation plans to reopen the park this season.

In an email to The Forum, MPR Director Jeff Stubblefield said the installation of new playground equipment and turf grass is scheduled to take about two weeks. The new playground equipment — including slides, swings spinners and tables — was donated as part of approximately $125,000 in new additions to the park by the Thomson family. Dick and Kay Thomson donated the park itself to the city in 2021.

The new playground equipment was announced in April, but shipping delays meant that it couldn’t be installed until now.

If temperatures are warm enough when the equipment installation is completed, Stubblefield said MPR plans to reopen the park and hold a ribbon-cutting for the new additions.

Since it opened two years ago, the Splash ‘N’ Play has consistently been one of the most popular daytime activities of each summer across the region with what MPR has estimated to be an average of hundreds of visitors every day during the summer months.

GEOFFREY WOEHLK/THE FORUM
The Thomson Splash ‘N’ Play is closed for approximately two weeks while new playground equipment and turf are installed. The new equipment was donated by the Thomson family earlier this year, including a swing set, slides, a spinner, tables, benches and more.