The city of Goleta has announced it is delaying the opening of the splash pad at Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park in Old Town.

The city anticipated opening in 2025, but during recent testing and inspection, equipment failures were identified. As a result, the facility does not meet the Goleta’s safety and quality standards required to open at this time, the city reports.

Staff and contractors have been working for months to address the deficiencies, the city said.

“We understand how disappointing this news is for our residents,” said JoAnne Plummer, director of Neighborhood Services. “The splash pad has been one of our most anticipated park improvements, and our community has been waiting patiently.

“While we are eager to open this facility to the public, the city is committed to taking the time needed to ensure the safety, reliability and long-term performance of the project,” officials said.

“City staff and contractors have diligently worked toward completing the splash pad installation but continue to run into persistent mechanical and operational challenges,” they said.

The city reports it is working closely with the contractor and equipment manufacturer to identify and resolve the root causes of the malfunctions.

Once the technical issues are resolved, the city said it is optimistic it will be able to open the splash pad. An updated timeline will be announced as soon as repairs and verification testing are complete.

The original design of Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park, which opened on March 30, 2019, envisioned a splash pad. At that time, the water feature could not be constructed due to water restrictions associated with the prolonged, multi-year drought.

As the water restrictions were lifted, Goleta moved forward with design and construction of the splash pad.

The project broke ground on June 13, 2023, but delivery of the project to the public has been delayed by construction issues, supply-chain challenges, and now mechanical and operational deficiencies.

“We deeply appreciate the community’s patience and understanding through this process,” said Plummer. “We look forward to celebrating the opening together soon and delivering a feature that will bring joy to residents for many summers to come.”

For ongoing updates about the splash pad project, visit www.cityofgoleta.org/splashpad.