New parks projects, including water slide, to open soon

July is Parks and Recreation Month, and Cape Girardeau's Parks and Recreation Department has no shortage of reasons to celebrate.

Staff members are optimistic this month will see the completion of some key projects long delayed by weather, they told the Cape Girardeau City Council during a presentation Monday.

Among these is the new slide at Cape Splash. It has five flumes and includes a three-lane mat racer that is 319 feet long with a 30-foot tall tower; a 265-foot partially enclosed free-fall slide; and a 259-foot triple-drop slide. The department hoped the new feature's opening would coincide with the water park's in May, but wet weather pushed back the date.

Those driving past the park on Kingshighway may have noticed the colorful pieces of pipe finally seemed to be connected into a complete slide. Parks and recreation director Julia Thompson said crews have worked to get it open as soon as possible, and some "finishing touches" are needed.

"We went through some challenging times, as I think everyone is aware, with the weather we had," she said. " ... But now, last week, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday we have been able to certify those slides."

The department hopes to have the new slides open by this weekend, ideally by Thursday, though Thompson said additional details would come soon.

Another project children and parents might have noticed is near completion is a playground at Capaha Park. Crews have worked around rain and elevation issues to complete the project, which includes the new pavilion and new sidewalks that allow greater access to that area.

Some site work and landscaping remains, but Thompson said the department hopes to see "substantial completion" by the end of the month. Weather permitting, the project could be complete in about six weeks.

On the other end of West End Boulevard, plants are growing at the community garden outside Shawnee Park Center. Work on the demo garden has been a collaboration with the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center, the Healthy Communities Coalition and the Missouri University Extension.

"We're really growing the garden and should be harvesting the fruits of our labors soon," Thompson said.

An official ribbon-cutting for the garden is scheduled for July 20.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

1625 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Broadway Street and West End Boulevard, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

835 S. West End Boulevard, Cape Girardeau, Mo.