- October 30, 2024
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By: Kimberly Norman
Public Relations Associate, City of Palm Coast
It’s a significant week for Holland Park as crews broke ground on the highly anticipated splash pad that will be a new, modern play area for families to enjoy next summer.
“This is an exciting time of growth for Palm Coast, and it’s an honor to be able to provide amenities like these for the people of this city," Mayor Milissa Holland said. “I can’t wait to see this splash pad open and all the smiling faces of the kids and parents who will benefit from it. My father would have loved to see his name given to such an awesome project in the city he loved so much.”
The splash pad is part of the Phase 2 construction project of the park. Dirt and sod was removed on Nov. 21 as crews will be digging down to put in the special pad which is comprised of four inches concrete and then several inches of blue-colored rubber on top.
Built into the pad will be several animal features such as a dolphin, an octopus and a whale. The dolphin is 8-feet-long with a spray on top. The octopus is 12-feet-long and has four sprays around the tentacles. And the whale is 18-feet-long with a spray on top, as well. They can also be climbed on. In addition, there will be squirt structures called bamboo cannons that will spray water for children to play with.
“I was grateful to be a part of making the selection process of these animal features going into the splash pad,” said Lauren Johnston, director of Parks and Recreation. “Our team was diligent on making sure these animals are ones that they could see in their own natural community. Each spray feature coming out of these animals was designed to create fun but also give realistic motion. It is exciting to see the first steps of this splash park come to life!”
Crews have also started forming and digging for the addition of two pavilions in the splash pad area and three more in the nearby playground area. At the same time, workers will construct three more pavilions in other areas of the park, such as the small dog park.
The splash pad is expected to be completed in July 2020.
Other aspects of the Phase 2 construction include the recently upgraded bathrooms, improved bocce ball courts, installation of a lightning protection system and more.
Located at 18 Florida Park Drive, James F. Holland Memorial Park offers 26 acres of diverse recreational amenities. A 3/4-mile walking trail runs along the park's perimeter. Explore the unique playground themed after the Bulow Plantation Sugar Mill complete with coquina rock structures featuring slides, bridges and ladders, a climbing wall, a zip line and an archeological digging area. This park is also the home to the Palm Coast Historical Society headquarters.
The facility also has three tennis courts, one junior-sized tennis court, two shuffleboard courts, two basketball courts, four striped pickleball courts, two horseshoe pits, a sand volleyball court and two large multi-purpose sports fields. The two baseball fields include bleacher shade coverings for added comfort.
