Copper Sky replacing splash pad due to safety concerns

The city has started work to replace the splash pad at Copper Sky due to safety concerns.

The project will address the sinking pad, which represented a hazard to patrons and could compromise the integrity of the pool, according to Nathan Ullyot, the city’s director of community services.

The pool will operate during normal hours for the rest of the week, but hours next week will be from 2-7 p.m., without the customary 30-minute break.

Ullyot said the schedule change for July 12-16 only impacts the open swim portion of the day, which will revert to afterschool and weekend hours when school resumes July 22.

Ullyot said there was no way to evaluate the condition of the pad from the surface, so the pad and fixtures will be replaced. There was good news from the evaluation, however, he said.

“Fortunately, all of the piping and pumps remain in good condition,” he said. “The changes (to the hours) are to allow the construction crew to finish and clean up prior to the entire pool being open to the public. To try and maximize the time for the open swim, we eliminated the reset break for the final week which means the actual impact to the public swimming time is only 30 minutes.”

Prep work has begun and installation of the pad will begin Monday, July 12. The project will take about four months.