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Splash Pad’s A Hit

by Allan Appel | Jul 31, 2009 9:34 am

(8) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Fair Haven

nhilewissplash%20004.JPG After the grand opening of the city’s newest splash pad was canceled due to a thunderstorm, 5-year old Joel Sosa and a dozen wet, squealing kids decided to make it official on their own.

Joel and other delighted kids splashed on a hot Thursday afternoon in the newly flowing fountains at Fair Haven’s Lewis Street Park.

The new water feature contains a large ostrich like creature spewing H20 in a heavy stream, a big red hydrant that shoots it in a more shower-like fashion, and yellow duck that is bothered neither by the water nor the kids on its back.

nhilewissplash%20003.JPG Like several of the supervising parents, Joel Sosa, Sr., called the water feature a great success. He lived on Lewis Street two years ago and bemoaned that it took so long.

“The city should do more things for inner city kids,” he said. He himself loves handball. He takes Joel, Jr. to a handball court at the Clinton Avenue School, the only court he knows of in the city. Sosa, who grew up in the hand ball-crazy Bronx, added, “A little handball costs 99 cents.” All you do, he added, after that, is “put up a wall, and then teach kids how to play. And they don’t get in trouble.”

nhilewissplash%20001.JPG Lewis Street Park was recently renovated through a grant from Lowe’s Corporation and the sweat equity of Fair Haven neighbors.

The water feature replaces a tree-shaded, underutilized area where unpark-like activities were taking place, including drug dealing.

nhilewissplash%20005.JPG Controversy recently erupted over the park’s covered blue slide, which teenagers were trysting in at night. There were calls for its replacement with a less love-friendly model.

The problems seem to have died down, however, with more neighborhood patrolling and police vigilance.

nhilewissplash%20006.JPG None of these controversies stopped kids like 5-year-old Kailani Lanh from enjoying the water Thursday. Her mom, Tani, said she was visiting a friend on Lewis Street last week when the splash pad was going in.

“They used to open the fire hydrants,” for the kids, “she said. “This is so much better.” She lives on Route 80, where, she said, they need a splash pad too.

nhilewissplash%20007.JPG Lewis Park’s splash pad is the second public cooling-off spot in Fair Haven, according to the mayor’s office. The other is the pool at the John Martinez School on James Street, which is open to the public all summer.

Fair Haven Alderwoman Migdalia Castro has expressed displeasure that the splash pad is not more centrally located in Fair Haven.

As if confirming that position, Matthew Breisch, who lives two houses up from the park, and has been involved in the controversies ,wrote in an email: “Even though we love having it right next to our house for our son Ewan to play in, it just doesn’t make sense to have it located on the fringe — or edge — of the neighborhood. Like I said, I have already seen people walking from at least Ferry street to enjoy the water – and it has only been two days. What happens when more people find out about it? People will have to walk from the other side of Fair Haven just to get to it.”

Comments

posted by: anon on July 31, 2009 1:48pm

Martinez School’s beautiful, ice-cold pool is on the other edge of the neighborhood, Matthew. Should it have been “centrally located” as well?

Between the two of them let’s call it a wash (or, perhaps, two washes).

posted by: Lewis Street goer on July 31, 2009 2:32pm

This is such a positive thing for the entire community of Fair Haven. Thanks to Lowes and to the community for making this happen.

And as far as the last comment…people have traveled farther for less. It would be great to bring people here to see what else is in Fair Haven.

posted by: Matthew on July 31, 2009 8:42pm

So, what’s wrong with wanting the splash pad located closer to the center of Fair Haven where more people can enjoy it?

posted by: Lisa on July 31, 2009 8:42pm

Thanks to all who made his happen! How great for kids to have a local place to go. I think it’s location is great - it brings families down to the river to see, enjoy and learn about the water, the riverside park, the lobstermen and fishermen at work, the historical buildings, etc…

posted by: robn on August 1, 2009 10:26am

I’m pretty sure that the previous article on this subject explained that this location was 1/3 the cost of a more central city owned location. Thats a pretty compelling reason in a year when its a stretch to provide any splash pad at all. The city seems to have done the right thing.

posted by: I walked from Lexington on August 1, 2009 11:30am

Fair Haven isn’t so big that these things need to be “centralized”. Kudo’s to all the hard work of concerned neighbors who physically transformed this park along with help from Lowes and the Parks Department. A “special” thank you to Alfresco Landscape and Design for all the behind the scenes work they did to make this a reality. Let’s work to keep the “controversial banter” to a minimum and celebrate the positives of this project. Following up every positive statement with a negative one is a wash, and tells the gentle complainer that maybe their point is mute.

posted by: DEZ on August 1, 2009 12:25pm

This is such a plus for Fair Haven. The park has been full of kids having a blast with the new water feature. We really need to thank Lowe’s for getting the ball rolling on this and Christy Haas and Bob Levine at Parks for making this a reality at Lewis Street. I think people are getting bogged down with the idea that Lewis St. is “the fringe”. Fair Haven spans the river as evidenced by the QRCG, the Q Ave re-do, and other citizen based initiatives. Are we complaining because the Farmer’s Market is at Quinnipiac River Park? Another “fringe”? Of course not! Lewis Street Park is a perfect destination from ALL parts of Fair Haven.

posted by: CH on August 3, 2009 6:24pm

positive thing”, “Thanks to Lowes” “it’s location is great - it brings families down to the river ” “Thanks to Levine” etc. etc.
TO:I walked from Lexington
“The “controversial banter” to a minimum and celebrate the positives of this project. Following up every positive statement with a negative one is a wash, and tells the gentle complainer that maybe their point is mute.”
ALMOS SOUND LIKE POETRY!
With respect to all of you with your “positive comments” I presumed that you live around the area (2 or 3 blocks) please try to see the other side of the “complainers”
I really think that their is a BIG massage here Fair haven, should not be notice only by this small are of Fair Haven, Front St and Lewis’s park. The good news , positive actions and celebrations” that are happening in this area (Front St, Lewis St.) this celebrations will be come from different part of fair haven who are really trying to be part of this celebrations by their own, not with a big result like this one, but whit any other celebration that are happening around Fair Haven,
The big news should be the kids, parents, grandparents, etc. working as a community working together (clean-ups parties or any other activities) By Covering this activities with the same enthusiasm that the media cover this parts of Fair Haven activities more people will see that there is a hope at the end of the dark tunnel. May be next “plash pad” can be ” centralized”. I don’t like complainer ether but in this case The complainer point shouldn’t be MUTE.
Thank you, I hope not too many people get offend it.

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