SPLASH PAD GRAND OPENING
By Harrison J. Bahe
The Yavapai News | hjbahe@fmyn.org | (480) 789 – 7124
On November 26, 2025, the long-awaited splash pad officially opened to the public, accompanied by the grand reopening of the newly refurbished and upgraded playground. Community members of all ages joined the festivities as the ribbon-cutting ceremony got underway. Free commemorative T-shirts were handed out, and hot dogs were served to everyone in attendance.
The park revitalization project cost approximately $3 million, funded through a combination of tribal funds and Federal Highway Transportation Grant funds. The Fort McDowell Public Works Division, in partnership with the Recreation Center team, will handle ongoing park needs, including landscaping, maintenance, and trash pickup.
Planning Project Manager and Interim Community Economic Development Department Director Erika McCalvin opened the program, followed by an opening prayer from Dr. Campbell. After nearly three years of development, phase one of the revitalization project is now complete. The area, once home to a disused baseball field, has been completely transformed thanks to support from the Tribal Council and the contractor, Kitchell.
“On behalf of the entire Kitchell team, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation for inviting us to be a part of this project,” project manager Jack Rynd shared. “We value the trust placed in us and are proud to partner with the community once again.”
Kitchell Construction worked alongside Dig Studio, whose creative vision shaped the park’s blend of existing features and new enhancements. At the center of the project is the new splash pad, featuring more than a dozen distinct water-play elements designed to offer a fun, safe, and welcoming space for children and families. Additional upgrades include new playground features and a shade canopy installed over the existing play structure to enhance comfort and accessibility. A new quarter-mile walking path now loops around the park’s perimeter, illuminated with new light poles to ensure visibility and safety at all hours. Kitchell also installed the irrigation infrastructure needed to support phase two, which includes new grass fields. The revitalized park also features a dedicated talking circle, a culturally significant space designed to support dialogue and community engagement for years to come.
While the community celebrated the park’s grand opening, the splash pad itself will not officially open for regular use until April 2026, when warmer weather returns. That didn’t stop enthusiastic visitors from young children to adventurous adults, including yours truly, from taking a refreshing stroll through its fountains. It was a wonderful sight to see both the young and the elderly enjoying all the new amenities. Even Tribal Council member Albert Nelson enjoyed a youthful moment, taking a swing on the newly installed playground equipment. So come visit the new park, enjoy some good old-fashioned fun, and get your steps in on the new walking path. We’ll see you at the splash pad in spring 2026!
