Reopened Splash Park Is A Cool Way To Cool Down

By Michelle Warren, The Chronicle

June 22, 2021

The splash pad at Lauter Park, a popular place for kids to cool off during the summer, recently opened for the first time since 2019.

After being closed last year amidst the pandemic, the park opened Memorial Day weekend. “Families love it,” Windham Assistant Recreation Director Charles Olbrias said. “It’s a great way to cool down.”

Lauter Park is at 625 Jackson St. in Willimantic. The splash park, which is free, has been open for many years there.

It will be open for seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. throughout the summer.

“It’s the gold standard of splash parks,” Windham Mayor Thomas DeVivo said. “It’s safe. It’s clean.”

Unlike the Willimantic park, there is a charge for the splash pad at Ocean Beach Park in New London, the only other splash park Olbrias knows of in the area.

He estimated that a total of 30 to 100 people use the splash park and/or beach daily, depending on the day.

Kids at the town summer camp, which is held at Lauter Park, have the option to go to either the river or the splash park and Olbrias said they often choose to visit the splash park.

“It’s always a pretty busy place,” he said.

Summer camp sessions run from July 6 to Aug. 13.

The pavilion, green area and splash park at Lauter Park were named “Cora Moore Recreational Area” after former Selectman Cora Moore in June 2016.

Moore was named a Romantic Willimantic Cupid in 1992, an honor given to an individual or individuals every year for giving back to the community in Windham.

Olbrias said it is comforting to adults that the splash park is fenced in, noting it gives them a “few minutes to breathe.”

There is regular upkeep at the park, noting the mechanics are adjusted regularly due to “normal wear and tear.”

“It’s cleaned daily by public works (staff),” Olbrias said.

He said the splash park will operate normally and said staff feel “pretty confident” it is a safe place for children to be during the pandemic.

“Obviously, we encourage people who aren’t vaccinated to wear their mask and follow guidelines from the state of Connecticut,” Olbrias said.

People can also cool off at the Lauter Park beach, which opened Memorial Day weekend as well.

The beach will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week throughout the summer.

In addition to the beach and splash park, there are also community gardens, a skate park, BMX park, two playgrounds, two pavilions and basketball courts at Lauter Park.

According to the town property card, Lauter Park is 17.4 acres.

“It’s a pretty awesome park,” Olbrias said. “I think it’s underrated. I think if more people realized what’s down there they would be pleasantly surprised.”

He said he would love to see a rose garden built at the park.

Follow Michelle Warren on Twitter-@mwarrentc.

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