Palatka families waiting for a new place to cool off this fall got encouraging news this week: the splash pad under construction at Booker Park could be ready to open in about four weeks. Public Works Director Joe Verrecchio delivered the update at Thursday's city commission meeting, where he walked officials through the project's remaining punch list and its final price tag.
Verrecchio told commissioners the splash pad, located at 701 N. 10th St., still needs a final coat of paint, benches around the pad, an FPL Power Systems check, sidewalks, fencing and general cleanup before it can open, according to Palatka Daily News. The sidewalks leading to the pad will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the outlet reported. Florida Power & Light has already connected the splash pad's electrical system, clearing one hurdle toward completion.
Costs Came In Well Under Early Estimates
The city spent $475,000 on the project, and the same report notes the splash pad was built within budget and ahead of schedule, finished without tapping into money from the 2026-2027 fiscal year budget. Annual operating costs are projected at $5,200 — a fraction of the up to $15,000 Verrecchio had initially estimated for yearly upkeep, per the outlet's reporting.
Once open, the splash pad is slated to run from dawn to dusk, seven days a week. Commissioner Annie Davis asked Verrecchio to consider setting specific operating hours rather than leaving it open around the clock during daylight, and he said he would look into it. Davis also said she'd be fine with the facility closing during colder weather, and the report indicates any seasonal shutdown will depend on weather conditions.
Automatic Shutoffs Built Into the System
Safety and water quality checks are built into the splash pad's design. Public Works staff will check the pad's acid and chlorine levels every day, and the facility uses a self-contained computer system that tracks chemical usage and alerts staff when something needs checking. If chemical levels fail to meet standards set by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the system automatically shuts down.
Pool and splash-pad operators across Florida are generally required to use specific test kits for certain chemicals under state rules. According to the Florida Department of Health, if substances like cyanuric acid, sodium chloride, quaternary ammonium, ozone or copper are fed into pool water, operators must use a test kit designed for that specific chemical. It's not clear from available records whether any of those particular chemicals are used at Booker Park.
Splash Pad Caps Broader Booker Park Overhaul
The splash pad is part of a wider refresh at Booker Park. Safety fencing at the facility has been replaced, and playground equipment has been upgraded as part of the park improvements; that fencing and playground work is now 100% complete. Park bathrooms have also been renovated to be ADA-compliant and are expected to open full time soon.
Public works employees plan to add a drinking fountain at the park, and the city is working to upgrade Booker Park's FPL light system, though Verrecchio said he does not yet have a known completion date for that lighting work. An earlier update on the broader project, cited by citizenportal.ai, described splash pad installation as underway with scheduling and contractor coordination in progress, alongside commission approval of replacement playground equipment including a zip line, a canopy-covered swing area, sidewalks, lighting upgrades and fencing.
Booker Park's splash pad is a separate undertaking from a proposed downtown splash pad that commissioners have also discussed. At a March meeting referenced in citizenportal.ai's reporting, staff said bids and quotes for that downtown project were close to a $375,000 budget, and commissioners asked staff to weigh site selection and homeless-service needs, along with seeking private partners and local business input, before moving forward. That downtown proposal remains a distinct effort from the Booker Park splash pad nearing completion now.
