The Carbondale Park District is preparing to open the Super Plash Park on Memorial Day weekend this year.
However they were informed by IDNR that those plans are on hold for the time being.
On a warm March day this would be the sound that you would hear on a construction site.
Crews working when the weather permits.
The Super Splash Park in Carbondale is over 70% complete.
“The pools are ready to go we have some deck work and some fence to put up, but there’s a lot of energy, anticipation if you will for the opening of this park.”
With only 73 days left until it’s grand opening on Memorial Day weekend, the park district received an email that opened a drain on the project.
Shelia Simon held a press conference Thursday morning to let the public know what’s going on.
“The park district was informed by the state that the department of natural resources at the direction of the governor has suspended funding for the construction of our splash park in Carbondale.”
Carbondale Park District executive director Kathy Renfro says she received a two-paragraph email yesterday from IDNR, which lead to the project being shut down on Thursday.
“We don’t have a lot of details on it we just know know that we’ve been asked not to incur anymore expense as of today.”
Dozens of people showed up to the press conference to show their support, which gives Renfro hope.
“I think today is a great example of people’s continued support of the project.”
Some unexpected support came from the Laborers Union 773, whose members worked on the project until today.
Business manager Kevin Star brought a surprise with him.
“We will give $7,000 to this project today to help finish this project.”
Suspending the project made Star confused about the message the Governor is sending the people of Illinois.
“What happens is they go on unemployment and they draw money from the state instead of paying taxes into the state and that’s the opposite of what the governor has said that he wants to do.”
But Renfro is not calling it quits on the project yet.
“I’m optimistic, if we could get back to work Monday I think we could hold on to our opening date."For
A new website will be online Thursday afternoon called “Save splash park .com” with information on how you can help keep the project going.
The park district is also encouraging people to come to the splash for luck fundraiser at Hangar 9 on Tuesday the 17th St. Patrick’s Day.
