Morgan city wants a splash pad. Heck, we'd like to have one too -- in our back yards. They're a lot of fun.
And they're popular too. Kids love them. Morgan City Councilman DeOrr Peterson may not be wrong when he says that a splash pad in Morgan may be what it takes "to breathe additional life into town."
So, let it be noted that this editorial board agrees that splash pads are fun.
But, and of course there's a but, the old fogie inside of us wonders if Morgan city spending around $250,000 of taxpayers' money for a splash pad, as well as park renovations, is the smartest idea during a bad recession period. The council has already spent $5,000 for preliminary engineering plans on the splash pad project. We're doubtful the city has another $250,000 to spare. Grants, of course, are a possibility, but they are not guaranteed and won't cover all costs.
If Morgan is determined to have a splash pad for the pleasure and recreation of the estimated 2,300 to 2,500 childen under 14 in the area, we suggest that city officials heavily promote the initiatives of some Morgan-area residents to raise funds by themselves for the installation. Morgan Councilwoman Shelly Betz described the splash pad fundraising ideas from area residents as "abundant."
Let's put many of those "abundant" ideas to work to rein in private funds for a splash pad. As mentioned, this is not the time for Morgan to spend taxpayers' money on such a project. Again, call us old fogies, but most of us cooled off as children at the local swimming pool or, if there was no pool, under the sprinklers. Sometimes that's the frugal choice.
A community effort to raise private funds for a splash pad would be very cool. Less cool is using public funds to cool off.
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