Downtown Little Rock’s Riverfront Park now has two splash pads, after city officials unveiled a pad for younger children Thursday, funded partly by donations from a lieutenant governor candidate and another businessman.
At a late-morning news conference, Democrat lieutenant governor candidate John Burkhalter and businessman Wayne Woods joined the mayor and a city director to show off the park’s new feature. The new pad is located in a children’s play area behind the Little Rock Marriott near the park’s Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden.
As the men spoke to a small crowd of family, city officials and Parks and Recreation Department employees, toddlers waddled behind them in mist emitted from the rock wall water feature.
“The fact that we can have a splash pad like this on this end of the park and one on the other end that will bring people here to spend the day in this part of the city is truly a special treat,” Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola said.
Another splash pad sits to the east of the new one in an area known as Peabody Park. The new splash pad, meant for children up to age 5, will operate from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. through October, weather permitting. When a button is pushed, a waterfall starts and continues for about a minute and a half. After a three minute break, the button can be pushed again to start a new cycle. Another button operates the mist, which continues for 30 minutes.
The city paid for half of the $120,000 project, which included landscaping near the splash pad, while the rest was matched by Burkhalter, president of Burkhalter Technologies, and Woods, chairman and chief executive officer of marketing firm Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods.
The men were approached by at-large City Director Dean Kumpuris about a year ago and asked to finance the project, which they did in honor of their children. After thanking the donors Thursday, Kumpuris said a lot of credit should also be given to the parks department.
“This is a remarkable structure built by the Little Rock city parks department. It was designed by them, it was built by them and it is a wonderful first-class amenity for our city,” Kumpuris said, adding that in addition to entertaining children, the area will also be a place for Marriott guests to relax and view the Arkansas River.
“There’s really not a better, more beautiful place on the river than right here,” he said.
Both donors described their contribution as a way to give back to the city.
“I give a lot of my time around the state and away from home, and this is an opportunity to give back something for the city and something for my family. This is really great for Little Rock,” Burkhalter said.
The Democrat won’t face opposition in the May primary, but in November he will run against one of three Republican candidates -U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin of Little Rock, state Rep. Debra Hobbs of Rogers or state Rep. Andy Mayberry of East End.
Woods called the splash pad a tribute to the city and the river that he loves.
“I’m grateful to be a part of this. Look at these kids out there. This is what this is all about. I hope my son brings his children one day out there,” Woods said, prompting raised eyebrows and a chuckle from his son.
In addition to the splash pad, Woods and Burkhalter plan to also pay for a sculpture of their children that will be placed in front of the splash pad, overlooking the river. The sculpture will depict Burkhalter’s two daughters - Johnna Kay, 13, and Anna Grace, 10 - and Woods’ son - Kyzer, 24 - sitting in a 1956 Sears mahogany kit boat. Burkhalter owns one of the boats, he said. The sculpture will be between 14 and 18 feet long.
The cost of creating the sculpture, building its foundation and placing it in the park will be between $50,000 to $100,000, and the project should be completed within four months, Burkhalter said.
A plaque will be placed by the sculpture honoring Burkhalter and Woods for their support of the splash pad project. Both men Thursday noted the impressive work on the project by the city’s parks employees.
Parks department Deputy Director of Operations Mark Webre, who oversaw the design and construction of the splash pad, also commended his workers Thursday.
“They are all very passionate about what they do. The big payoff is to see people enjoying it,” he said. “So it’s a love, it’s definitely a work of love.”
Arkansas, Pages 9 on 04/25/2014