Construction is officially underway on a new splash pad at the Summerville Recreation Department on Highway 100, bringing the city closer to adding another summertime recreation option for local families.

The Summerville City Council approved the project in June after receiving a bid from GameTime totaling $399,928.89. The bid was the only one received by the city and was unanimously approved by the council.

Summerville Recreation Director Adam Wilson said the city worked closely with GameTime to finalize the design and pricing for the new attraction.

“We’ve been working diligently with GameTime, trying to get this perfected and get a really nice splash pad for the community, and we believe that we’ve done so,” Wilson said when the project was discussed in June.

Summerville Mayor Rickey Hughes also thanked Wilson for his work on the project and recognized the effort involved in developing the plans and preparing the bid package.

The new splash pad will feature a free-flow water system, meaning water will move through the splash pad’s features rather than being recirculated. According to city officials, the design is expected to help address both maintenance and public health considerations.

At nearly $400,000, the project represents a significant investment in Summerville’s recreation facilities and will provide another warm-weather activity for children and families using the Highway 100 recreation complex.

With ground now broken and construction underway, city leaders are looking forward to watching the new facility take shape over the coming months.

The project will also give Summerville its own public splash pad option. The nearby Town of Trion currently operates a public splash pad during the summer months for area residents.