Community Government

Skansie Park splash pad repairs must wait until next year

Gig Harborites will have to wait until next year to use the Skansie Brothers Park splash pad.

The Gig Harbor City Council voted 3-1 in favor of a staff recommendation that the city reject all bids to repair the splash pad, due to lack of funding. The city will request bids again early next year. Councilmember Ben Coronado voted against delaying the project.

The city originally conceived of the splash pad as an artistic water feature. However, when visitors began using it as a splash pad, the city moved certain components underground, where they deteriorated.

The splash pad fountain at Skansie Brothers Park will remain closed until 2027. Photo by Vince Dice

Public Works Director Jeff Langhelm told council members on Aug. 10 that city workers discovered wiring and electrical issues during routine maintenance a few years ago. The city closed the splash pad more than a year ago, leaving Skansie Park visitors without a favorite place to cool off. 

Staff requested bids for repairs in June and received no response; a second attempt in July yielded three bids.

A company that was not on the state’s roster for small public works submitted the lowest bid. While the city could afford that bid, it couldn’t accept it because the company is not on the roster.

The lowest qualified bid came in at just less than $350,000. However, the city budgeted only $200,000 for the work. 

Staff recommended the council reallocate the contract in the 2027-2028 city budget and ask for new bids in January 2027.

Councilmembers expressed concerns over delaying the project.

Coronado asked whether further deterioration might lead to higher costs to repair the installation. He also wondered how putting the project out to bid in January would result in more bidders.

Delaying the project one more season won’t have major knock-on effects, Langhelm assured him, primarily because the city turns it off right after Labor Day.

Langhelm said staff will look for ways to make the contract more appealing for bidders. He also remarked that getting bidders in the summer is difficult.

“It’s a tough time of year to do this kind of project because so many contractors are so busy already,” he said, “and so, in January, if they’re not as busy, there might be more interest by more contractors.”

Councilmember Le Rodenberg asked whether the splash pad would open next season if the council postponed the contract.

Langhelm said the project calls for equipment that typically takes a long time to obtain. That would likely prevent the city from opening the splash pad until Memorial Day 2027. He said the city may be able to order some equipment that isn’t as hard to find and have items ready to go for the contractor.

“[The splash pad is] a very popular feature. When I’m down there, I really enjoy seeing everybody enjoy this splash pad,” Rodenberg said. “I can support this with a hard expectation that it will be up and running come next season. And I expect to advocate for it in the budget as we go through that process.”

Only councilmembers Coronado, Rodenberg, Julie Martin, and Patrick Ammann were present at Monday’s meeting. Councilmembers Emily Stone, Reid Ekberg, and Loreto Tessicini were absent.