After introducing an extremely popular splash pad at Wetherby Park, Iowa City jumped at the opportunity to redirect grant money to add a similar aquatic play area in the Grant Wood neighborhood. Adding the Fairmeadows Park splash pad was intended to alleviate crowding at the nearby Wetherby Park and make these water features available to a larger number of children -- of all ages.

The splash pad includes 20 types of ground-mounted emitters and colorful above-grade structures for children to play in on hot summer days. It is located centrally within Fairmeadows Park along Lakeside Drive and Miami Drive, near Grant Wood Elementary.  The park is a hub for summer activities in the neighborhood, making the splash pad a wonderful addition to the already bustling park.

MMS Consultants was retained to design the site and utility connections for the splash pad. This included an overall park layout plan, design of parking and trails within the park, and the splash pad/plaza paving, among other things.

The project was funded through a Community Development Block Grant. MMS assisted the city in complying with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Labor Relations documentation and in obtaining the required Iowa Department of Public Health swimming pool/spa construction permit.

The splash pad opened for public use on June 23, 2013, and operates 10 hours a day in summer months. MMS’ Luke Newton was the design architect.