The Buellton City Council has asked for additional information, including prices, about splash pads aimed at giving children a place to cool off on hot days.

On Thursday night, the City Council heard a staff report and requested more information about costs, designs, sizes and more to keep the proposal alive for now. 

Splash pads come in various designs, spraying water on children. Designs can feature structures such as a bucket to dump water on youths or a more simple option of spitting fountains of water from underground.

The concept is especially desirable since Buellton sits in the Santa Ynez Valley, where no public pool exists but temperatures top 90 degrees for days at a time during the year. 

A survey of residents revealed overwhelming support for the installation of a splash pad, council members noted. 

So far, the only splash pad in the Santa Ynez Valley sits at Flying Flags RV Park and is available only to guests.

Recognizing that a splash pad likely will attract residents from the Santa Ynez Valley, council members discussed what size splash pad might be needed. 

“I think that if you can come back with multiple designs, multiple developers, multiple costs on each one of those, then I think we can have a more intelligent conversation going forward,” Mayor Dave King said. 

The proposed location for a splash pad and the possibility of installing more than one would be decided at a different meeting. 

“I would like to err on the side of larger because we do know that we’re going to attract people from all over the place … ,” Councilwoman Elyssia Lewis said, “because there is nothing for kids to do here. This will be a big thing.”

Councilman Hudson Hornick said the expected popularity may require two splash pads at two sites in Buellton. 

“If we have one we know is going to be a draw, it might be worthwhile to have a second, smaller one, something with just maybe holes in the ground by a place where there are other things for a family to do,” Hornick said. “I would say even Avenue of the Flags.”

Public Works Director Rose Hess said she sought information from a manufacturer about a basic splash pad, sharing an artist’s illustration of one proposed for the Centennial Gardens apartment complex under construction in Santa Maria. 

Splash pads must have water treatment systems to keep people safe. Staff would have to test the water daily, she said. 

A 2-year-old estimate for the private, smaller splash pad in Santa Maria put the price for equipment at $250,000. Installation likely would amount to $150,000 to $200,000. 

Buellton still would need to work with its contract engineering firm for the plans, grading improvements and utility connections, Hess said. 

Staff also explored water misters as a less-expensive alternative since it would not have a treatment system. A 2019 estimate put a $90,000 price tag on the water mister option. 

Hess said she will seek out price estimates for small, medium and large splash pads along with the number of children each would accommodate.

Possible locations for splash pads include River View Park, Village Park or Avenue of Flags, but the discussion avoided the topic for now, keeping the talks to the concept. If they discussed locations, Councilman David Silva would have had to step off the dais because his home sits near one proposed site. 

Staff brought the item for discussion since the council previously had expressed a desire to  install splash pads, based on a $20,000 estimate, much lower than the newer prices presented Thursday. 

“This isn’t going to be some pocket change that is going to happen. You’re going to be spending a substantial amount,” Hess said.

City staff also continue to explore whether grant money would be available to help fund the splash pads.