After making its debut earlier this summer, the West Chester Township Splash Park at Beckett Park will be closed until further notice, according to a Facebook post.
The announcement cites multiple reports of safety concerns and injuries from residents, as well as maintenance and operational issues as the cause of the closure for the West Chester park.
The Facebook post stated that West Chester has worked closely with the manufacturer of the park’s equipment to address concerns about safety “from the beginning”. Although the manufacturer assured the township that its equipment is safe, the park will still be closed indefinitely.
West Chester spokesperson Brianna Wooten did not share information on the incidents that led to this decision.
The park just opened for the first time at the end of May and is advertised on the township’s website to be the largest free splash pad in Ohio.
Much like a regular playground, there are no staff supervising the splash park, according to Wooten. She added that it has always been a “use at your own risk park,” with “clearly posted safety rules.”
West Chester Township last had a closure on June 27 when it closed a section of the park for nearly a week after getting calls of concern about the park’s tube slide, according to another Facebook post by West Chester Township. Besides the partial closure, the park had only been fully closed for 24 hours, according to Wooten.
The splash park was supposed to be open until Labor Day on Sept. 1, 2025. It is unclear whether the park will reopen before the end of the season. Wooten said she is unable to share a timeline of when the park may reopen.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: New West Chester Twp. Splash Park closing due to ‘operational issues,’ reported injuries
Reporting by Gillian Stawiszynski, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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