Temporary splash park now open downtown

A temporary splash park on the city’s east side is now open. An official kickoff event for the park, called SplashJAM, will be noon to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Paid for through grant money and other private donations, the $160,000 temporary splash pad quietly opened Thursday after a delay of more than a week. The park was originally slated to open July Fourth weekend but problems with the construction delayed its opening.

SplashJAM, at Northeastern Park at the corner of Short Street and Eastern Avenue, is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. until Aug. 10, when Fayette County schools resume. The temporary water feature is directly behind Thoroughbred Park. It has 28 water jets, temporary rest rooms, chairs, a changing room and shade, organizers said.

SplashJAM is a joint project between the Blue Grass Community Foundation, the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government, the Lexington Downtown Development Authority and Lexington parks and recreation.

This story was originally published July 15, 2016 at 9:47 PM with the headline "Temporary splash park now open downtown."