Irwin officials learned this week they can put a splash park in Irwin Park, but they have yet to decide how big it might be, the cost or how the borough would get the money to build it.

Lucien Bove, borough engineer, presented a draft design of where a splash park could be located — at the site of a 20- by 40-foot area that has an unused 8-foot pole that once sprayed water from its base.

A 2013 design he prepared to obtain a grant for a splash park within that area estimated the cost at $25,000 for “a very small splash pad,” Bove said.

“The more features you have, I think it is significantly more,” Bove said.

Councilman Michael Yunn, chairman of the borough’s parks committee, said Tuesday the committee will have to discuss the concept.

A splash park in that section would be prone to flooding — either from the creek or from stormwater that collects in the area, Bove said. The problem could be solved by raising the level of the ground and installing drainage pipes to the creek.

The borough also would have to decide if it wants to recycle the water, which would require treatment, Bove said. An underground tank with filters would be needed and water that might drain into the creek would have to be dechlorinated, Bove noted.

Irwin also will have to consider the tap-in fees charged by the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County and the water usage. Feeding the splash park with a 2-inch line would cost $257 per quarter, but a smaller line would cost about $90 per quarter.

Operating and maintaining the park will be a cost, and vandalism could be potential problem, Bove said.

An updated feasibility study would be needed to get any government funding. The study would show whether there was sufficient demand in the community for a splash park and the borough would need to hold public meetings for input, Bove noted.

SplashPadsUSA, which is based in Salt Lake City, estimates on its website that its commercial grade splash pad cost ranges from $65,000- $500,000. The splash pads can have ground spray or above-ground features, where water fills a bucket or is sprayed from above.

A splash pad opened in June at Murrysville Community Park.

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