Splash park coming to town, rec center improvements possible

METRO File Photo

By: 
Colin Tiernan colin@glenrockind.com

Water jets and cannons are coming to Glenrock.
The town has budgeted for a new splash park, a sort of amphibious playground, primarily for kids. The park would be similar to the one at Casper’s David Street Station.
“We just thought it would be a good project,” Glenrock Mayor Bruce Roumell said. “It would provide something for the kids and everybody to use in the summertime.”
The splash park would be an ice skating park in winter, although it would not be a regulation-sized hockey rink.
“I think it’d be a good addition to the town, and the location near the rec center would be great,” Glenrock Public Works Director Randy Rumpler said, adding that it will keep kids “here in town.”
The exact location of the project isn’t yet clear, but it would likely be near the current rec center. The splash park would cost $1 million. A grander proposal, which would include an amphitheater, new playground equipment and resurfaced basketball courts, would have cost $2.4 million. Those features aren’t off the table for the future, but won’t be included in this year’s budget.
Rumpler said he hopes to break ground this summer, although some of that depends on whether or not a Converse County special election makes its way onto the ballot for a November vote.
If the special election occurs, voters would decide on a sixth penny tax for $89 million. That $89 million would fund a new Douglas rec center ($37 million), a rec center re-model and outdoor pool in Glenrock ($24 million), operations and maintenance funds ($10 million) and interest on bond payments.
Glenrock Rec Board Director Donnie Stewart said the re-model is sorely needed.
“We need this in Glenrock to continue operations and keep our building alive,” he said. He also explained that, unlike in Douglas, the re-modeled Glenrock rec center would not begin charging membership fees. 
“Really we’re just going to fix what we’ve got and run business as normal here,” he explained. 
Stewart added that he doesn’t know how the re-model would be financially plausible if the special election doesn’t happen or if voters decide against the proposal.

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