Splish, Splash - Doggie Splash Pad Opens at Kyle Park

A new Doggie Splash Pad, the first of its kind in Miami County, was officially opened on Wednesday, September 11, at Kyle Park in Tipp City.

The official opening was attended by City Manager Eric Mack and Clerk of Council Janice Bates, who organized the official opening event. Also present from the city were Finance Director John Green and Law Director Jonathan Freeman.

Eric Mack spoke to the attendees at the Splash Pad, noting that it was the first in Miami County. He thanked Doug and Julie Slagel, and Richard Bender of the Tipp Foundation, all present at the ceremony, for donating the money needed to build the Splash Pad. Mack called the splash pad a “great project” and also noted that the splash pad is a “great addition” to the existing dog park in Kyle “for the pets to enjoy.” He said the city was looking forward to the splash pad in use and seeing pets and their owners enjoying the splash pad “for many years to come.”

Julie Slagel, speaking to the gathering, mentioned that when funding was needed to complete the project, she and her husband said: “We were pet people, we were parks people, we’d love to sponsor that!” City Council member Doug Slagel then cut the red ribbon spread across the Splash Pad gate … and the Splash Pad was “officially open!”

The city broke ground on the project in June and carried out most of the construction, digging up the grass and moving dirt away to create the space where the doggy splash pad is located. Construction and installation work continued over the next few months, and fencing and gates were added in early September to complete the project.

The Splash Pad sits next to the Kyle Park Dog Park, located in the far eastern portion of Tipp City’s largest park. The splash pad is accessible via a gate into the Dog Park and also via an outside gate that leads directly into the Splash Pad from the parking lot. Visitors (or perhaps very well-trained dogs) must push a button inside the Splash Pad, and water squirts up for three minutes at numerous locations within the Splash Pad. Just push the button again, and the water splashes for another three minutes.

Near the end of the ceremony, Father John Tonkin, formerly of St. Johns in Tipp City and now of St. Joseph, Pillar of Families Parishes in Sidney, blessed the new Splash Park with holy water. Someone remarked, “Because we don’t already have enough water,” and Father Tonkin and others responded with laughter.

A frequent Dog Park visitor, Jennifer Moorhead, accompanied by her daughter, was thrilled with the new Splash Pad. She explained, “We come to the Dog Park every morning. It’s part of our life. We have the best group of dogs, and it’s part of our day. We appreciate what you guys do. Thank you, more than you know. Our favorite place!”

Julie Slagel then mentioned that the Splash Pad will likely be open in September, October, and perhaps November, depending on when the ground freezes.