Installation has begun on Olean’s splash pad in War Veterans Park

By RICK MILLER

Olean Star

The City of Olean’s splash pad at War Veterans Park is finally taking shape. 

The contractor began installing components of the splash park on the concrete pad earlier this month.

The Common Council purchased components for the splash pad in 2023 for about $800,000. Since then, they have been stored inside the fence around the city pool.

PV Paving & Concrete, Smethport, Pa., was the low bidder for building the splash pad and installing the components. They bid $459,540. The city had projected $800,000 in construction costs. The other bid received was for $2.6 million. The city used federal Covid aid to pay for the components.

There were delays associated with obtaining a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the unexpected excavating of large pieces of concrete from the former city pool constructed in the 1950 to make way for the splash pad.

Crews from PV Paving & Concrete poured the pad and built a pumphouse last year. 

After the splash pad opens — perhaps as soon as Memorial Day — attention will turn to the adjacent city pool, which has been closed for the past two summers due to a failure in the original sand filtration system.

Public Works Director James Sprague Tuesday said the contractor still has to install a few more water features and work needs to be completed in the pumphouse. After that, there will be a few project details to be finished.

While the target date for opening the splash pad is Memorial Day, that is dependent on the delivery of parts, Sprague said.

The Public Works Department opened bids on the adjacent swimming pool last week and is now reviewing them, Sprague said.

The city received a $750,000 state grant last year to use toward replacing the filtration system and renovating the swimming pool.

Sprague said it will be up to the Common Council to decide on whether to accept the bid recommended by  Public Works.

The swimming pool project will keep the pool closed again this year. In 2024, the Cattaraugus County Health Department ordered the pool not to reopen in 2025 after the failure of the original sand filtration system.