White Salmon to open Splash Pad on Sept. 3

From the City of White Salmon:

The City of White Salmon invites the community’s children (and parents!) to take part in the inaugural splash of the new splash pad on Tuesday, September 3, at 3:45 p.m. in Rheingarten Park.

“We’re so excited to finally have this project in place and ready for our families to start using!” said Mayor Marla Keethler. “The splash pad was a park improvement that was included in the city’s 2022 Park System Plan update and received broad community support. Especially as we await construction of the White Salmon Valley Metropolitan Park District’s new pool, we felt it was important to prioritize getting this new park feature in place.”

The City Council approved allocation of funding for this project in 2023, and it was fully funded through Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) dollars, which must be used on municipal capital improvement projects.

“We know that increased housing costs are primarily a stressor for many residents, and I think our Council being able to commit some of the increased excise tax revenues we’ve seen from real estate sales to deliver a new feature for our residents to enjoy is worthy of recognition,” said Mayor Keethler. White Salmon City Council’s adopted 2024 priorities included addressing gaps in resources and opportunities for the city’s youngest residents.

“With city council’s approval and the mayor’s leadership, staff is happy that we were able to make the splash pad happen sooner rather than later,” said City Administrator Troy Rayburn.
In addition to the inaugural splash, residents are invited to enjoy the White Salmon Farmers Market, while children splash, as well as games and music for entertainment. There’s always something for everyone at the Farmers Market!

For more information on the inaugural splash on Tuesday, September 3, please contact the city administrator at administrator@whitesalmonwa.gov or 509 493 1133 – x202.

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