photo by: Austin Hornbostel/Journal-World

The still-in-progress splash pad at Lyons Park, 700 Lyon St., in North Lawrence is pictured Friday, July 21, 2023. Recent vandalism incidents have led to a delay in the splash pad's opening.

Summer fun at the City of Lawrence’s newest water feature will have to wait a little longer. Vandalism at the still-in-progress Lyons Park splash pad has led to a delay in its anticipated completion date.

The new feature at Lyons Park, 700 Lyon St., will be Lawrence’s second splash pad once complete. The first splash pad opened at Burroughs Creek Trail and Linear Park near the trail crossing at 15th Street last July.

Mark Hecker, one of the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department’s assistant directors, told the Journal-World Friday that the department is optimistic about the new splash pad being ready to go by early August, despite the recent setback.

“Originally, we’d kind of soft-targeted July 15 as a be done with that project date, but the contractor did have a couple instances of vandalism where some equipment was stolen and then, more recently, some electrical wires were cut,” Hecker said. “They made those repairs and we’re hoping to do a test on the operation next week. It’s definitely delayed us a couple of weeks, but not significantly.”

Hecker said for now he didn’t have any further details to share about the nature of the vandalism — including whether the acts were isolated incidents — since the splash pad is still in the hands of the city’s contractor until it’s turned over to the Parks and Recreation Department. That also includes most details about what was taken or damaged, he added.

For now, Hecker said the department knows the Lyons Park splash pad is a highly anticipated addition for people in North Lawrence, especially if usage at the existing splash pad over in East Lawrence is any indication.

“The Burroughs Creek splash pad has been really busy,” Hecker said. “It seems like any day the sun’s out, there’s somebody over there playing in it, so that’s been great news. I think Lyons Park will give us an amenity over in North Lawrence, kind of give a different neighborhood an opportunity, too. I think it’s going to be good.”