Backyard Adventures

BACKYARD ADVENTURES 2015 Pike Publishing 23 A six-figure donation from the Kiefer estate and some creative thinking has turned into one of the more popu- lar attractions in Pike County. The Hornady Park Splash Park draws thousands of people from southern Indiana to Petersburg every year. The small area has five splash features, spraying cool water in various ways for kids and kids at heart to get wet and cool off during the summer. On any given hot summer day, there are numerous mothers and families with their barefooted little ones running, giggling and squealing from the giant mush- room rainfall to the various spray features. The best part is, it is free to all and operates off a mo- tion sensor anytime the park is open during the summer. Parents can venture out into the splash features or just sit nearby on a picnic table. At peak times, there are even snow cones available. The park is activated by a push button and timer. While they collect donations, the splash park, like Hor- nady Park, is free. Former Petersburg Mayor Jon Craig said a $130,000 donation from the estate of Phil and Adelaide Kiefer was originally given to the City of Petersburg for the specific purpose of building a municipal swimming pool. There were lots of stipulations and requirements built into the donation. It had to be started within five years of the gift or the money was to be diverted to a scholarship fund for Main St. Presbyterian Church attendees. Craig said when he came into office, the time dead- line was approaching the fourth year and the costs of a swimming pool were looking prohibitive. "While the Kiefers' gift was a generous and sizable donation, the cost estimate for a pool was over $1 mil- lion. There was also significant annual maintenance and personnel costs for lifeguards and staffing," said Craig. Craig approached Park Board President Silas Ashley about a splash park. The park board traveled around Indiana to view similar parks. They also talked with their insurance company about liability for a splash park and pool. A splash park wouldn't require them to keep it staffed like a pool does. "After much discussion, they (park board) came to the conclusion it could be done," said Craig. There were still more obstacles. Because the estate had specifically designated the donation be for a pool, the City had to talk with the Kiefer estate representa- tives. "We would have had no desire to go to court to get a change approved," said Craig. Craig and Ashley met with the representatives of the Kiefer estate and they were able to get a written agree- ment between all the parties involved to change from a pool to a splash park. "We all believed this would truly be a legacy the Kiefers would be proud of," said Craig. "I went to six different towns and saw how they built theirs and how they were being used," said Silas Ashley, president of the Petersburg Park Board. He said he was confident there would be demand for the splash park. He was right, there are literally bus loads of kids com- ing to Petersburg to use the splash park. In recent sum- mers, buses from Holland and Princeton have brought kids to play in the splash park. Petersburg was able to get additional donations totaling $50,000 from Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Indiana, Pike County Community Foundation, India- napolis Power & Light, Vectren Foundation, Vectren Fuels —Prosperity Mine, Citizens State Bank and Mr. Darwin Youngs. The City of Petersburg added another $10,000. Craig said local contractor Jerry Sullivan did the construction and held the cost of the project to about $190,000, while similar projects around Indiana were completed at costs of $ 300,000. Even the donation box was donated. Craig said Todd Dawson fabricated a donation box to look like a large sunflower. The Splash Park operates typically from Memorial Day to Labor Day, depending on weather. If the weather gets warm prior to Memorial Day, it opens sooner and the same at the end of the summer. STORY AND PHOTO BY ANDY HEURING kiefer splash Park is summer Fun WITHOUT THE WAIT PIKE COUNTY PIKE COUNTY ANNUAL 94 th 94 th Sunday, July 12 5:00 p.m. Parade – Main Street Petersburg 6-10 p.m. 4-H Building Open 6:00 p.m. 4-H Fair Opening Ceremony – Amphitheater Special appearance by Michael Cochren 7:00 p.m. Horse Show (Contesting) – Horse Arena Monday, July 13 9:00 a.m. Goat Show – Livestock Barn 5-10 p.m. 4-H Building Open 6:00 p.m. Horse Show (Pleasure) – Horse Arena 7:00 p.m. Little Miss and Mister Pageant – Amphitheater 8:30 p.m. Junior Miss Pike County Pageant – Amphitheater Tuesday, July 14 9:00 a.m. Poultry Show – The Robinson Building 5-10 p.m. Carnival Rides 5-10 p.m. 4-H Building Open 6-10 p.m. Free Stage – Midway 6:30 p.m. Swine Show – Livestock Barn 7:00 p.m. Teen Miss Pike County Pageant – Amphitheater 7:30 p.m. Horse and Pony Fun Show – Horse Arena 8:00 p.m. Miss Pike County Pageant – Amphitheater Wednesday, July 15 9:00 a.m. Rabbit Show – Livestock Barn 5-10 p.m. 4-H Building Open 5-10 p.m. Carnival Rides 6-10 p.m. Free Stage – Midway 6:00 p.m. Beef, Dairy and Sheep Shows – Livestock Barn 6:00 p.m. Amazing Race to End Hunger – Amphitheater 7:00 p.m. 4-H Family Fun Night – Amphitheater Thursday, July 16 9:00 a.m. Small and Large Animal Supreme Showmanship Contests – Livestock Barn 5-10 p.m. 4-H Building Open 5-10 p.m. Carnival Rides 6-10 p.m. Free Stage – Midway 6:00 p.m. DeWayne Spaw Concert – Amphitheater 7:00 p.m. Hog Wrestling – Amphitheater Friday, July 17 3:00 p.m. MXR Supercross Sign Ups – Amphitheater 4:00 p.m. 4-H Livestock Auction – Livestock Barn Special appearance by Madeline Hayden 5:00 p.m. MXR Supercross Track Practice – Amphitheater 5-10 p.m. Carnival Rides 5-10 p.m. 4-H Building Open 6-10 p.m. Free Stage – Midway 7:00 p.m. MXR Supercross Races – Amphitheater Saturday, July 18 Last Blast At The 2015 Pike County 4-H Fair 8:00 a.m. Youth Fishing Tourney- Prides Creek Park 2:00 p.m. Silly Safaris Live Animal Shows – Midway 3:30 p.m. Silly Safaris Live Animal Shows – Midway 2-4 p.m. Mr. Twister Balloon Sculpturist- Midway 3-10 p.m. Carnival Rides 5-8 p.m. Mr. Twister Balloon Sculpturist - Midway 6:00 p.m. Kiwanis Bingo – 4-H Building 7:00 p.m. Dylan Scott Concert – Amphitheater Special Guest: Payton Lynn For More Information: Visit: www.extension.purdue.edu/pike Call: 812-354-6838 www.Facebook.com/ PikeCounty4HFair PAGEANTS LIVE MUSIC! All Bikes, All Quads & All Ages Lindsey Nixon 2014 Miss Pike County 18 USC 707 Schedule of eventS • July 12-18, 2015 Madeline Hayden 2015 Miss Indiana State Fair SUPErCroSS

• Cover