After years of waiting, west Ames residents may be able to enjoy a new splash pad in 2026. The Ames City Council approved plans for a package of park improvements at its Tuesday meeting, including a request for proposals for plans to build a new splash pad in Daley Park.

The council approved preliminary plans for the project as well as plans for the Ada Hayden Heritage Park path replacement and parks maintenance facility expansion projects — all with the same target dates of June 11 for the bid due date and June 24 for a public hearing.

Parks staff has been working with consultants for these three large projects over the last several years. They were presented to the council in a package because there is projected to be significant savings in one project and a significant shortfall in another. The information was shown as a package so the council could have an idea of how all three projects could be funded.

The splash pad was included as part of the 2020-21 Capital Improvement Plan. The play area would consist of ground sprays, geysers, directional jets and a medium sized dump bucket.

The cost estimate for the entire project is $924,424 and expected to be completed by June 1, 2026.

Completed before June 2026?: Parks and Recreation Department Director John Dunn said that’d depend on the other projects scheduled by the chosen contractor but if it’s possible to start work earlier resulting in an earlier completion date, that’d be preferable.

Ada Hayden Heritage Park path replacement project

The consulting firm of WHKS and Co. of Ames was hired to develop bid plans and specifications and assist with construction administration for the Ada Hayden Heritage Park path replacement project, which will remove the 10-foot-wide asphalt path and replace it with a 12-foot-wide concrete path.

The base bid includes the paths around the north and south lakes as well as the connection from the main trail to the Harrison Road parking lot. Three alternates are included for removing and replacing the connector paths to Edgewater Circle, Fletcher Boulevard and Stone Brooke Road.

Lanes: Graphics will be painted on the pavement indicating that walkers and runners are to use the portion of the path closest to the lake. Wheeled modes of transportation will be directed to use the portion of the path furthest from the lake. Signage will also be installed, and an education campaign will be launched to help the community understand the new rules.

Paths will be closed for the duration of the project. Every effort will be made to open one of the completed walking path loops, if possible, even though the entire project may not be completed.

The engineer’s total project cost estimate is $1.48 million.

Parks maintenance facility expansion

The parks maintenance facility expansion project is designed to consolidate park maintenance staff and equipment into one location.

The project includes four main components:

• Renovation of the existing park maintenance building
• Adding parking
• Cold storage building, allowing staff to consolidate maintenance equipment and attachments at one site
• Relocating the bulk water station because the current location will interfere with the cold storage building and additional parking

The engineer’s cost estimate for the project is $1.3 million.