May 16, 2018
Central Park splash pad to operate a modified schedule
MURPHY (May 16, 2018) Illustrating the importance of proper stewardship of natural resources and limiting the use of water to avoid adding to the so-called “water cap,” the Murphy City Council directed staff to follow a modified schedule for the Central Park splash pad.
The directive was approved at the City Council meeting of May 15.
The splash pad, a series of recreational water spouts near the children’s playground at Central Park, will officially be opened from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It will operate from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Tuesdays through Sundays during that 14-week period. Except for specific holidays which occur on Mondays, the splash pad will be closed on Mondays to allow staff to conduct maintenance on its mechanics and hydraulics.
The exceptions to this schedule include City-sponsored events and activities at the park such as Moonlight Movies and Sounds at Sundown, according to Parks Superintendent Matt Foster.
“We, of course, will honor all existing reservations that fall outside of the new hours that were made prior to the implementation of this directive,” he said. “But we will not be taking new reservations to utilize the splash pad.”
Reservations for the pavilion at Central Park are unaffected and will still be accepted and honored.
The City has been urging residents to carefully monitor their water consumption, as the water cap, imposed by the North Texas Municipal Water District, commits a community to purchase water at its highest level of consumption, regardless of any other extenuating circumstances.
“Even if we use less water within a given year, we still are required to purchase water at our highest level,” says City Manager Mike Castro, PhD. “That cap increases if we go over the previous cap, but it never goes any lower. Obviously, we want to avoid setting any new high marks in consumption.”
City officials are also encouraging neighborhood associations and subdivisions to be mindful of the cap when watering common areas and neighborhood entryways.
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