If it was not for the coronavirus, Sussex's new 5,200-square-foot splash pad would have opened for Memorial Day weekend, said Village Administrator Jeremy Smith.
But for now, the splash pad at Village Park remains off limits.
Both Smith and Halie Dobbeck, parks & recreation director, did not estimate an opening date, but they are working on what they need to do to eventually open safely.
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It is the state's social distancing guidelines — with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation — Smith said, that are the hardest to figure out how to implement. WEDC issued instructions for entertainment and amusement venues that cater to groups of people in indoor or outdoor settings so they can reopen safely.
"We want to be open," Smith said.
WEDC's social distancing guidelines for splash pads are for people to be 6 feet apart unless within a single-home family unit; there must also be 6 feet of social distance for children going through a splash pad. As a result, they are encouraged to take turns moving through the splash pad.
"Kids like to run around," Smith said. "They are kids. (Social distancing) is complicated. (Social distancing) will be hard to do."
Smith or Dobbeck did not clearly state their plan for social distancing, but only that they are working on meeting all state guidelines and reviewing best practices from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The splash pad will feature three play areas: active, family and toddler.
The splash pad's family area will have a 20-foot tall dumping feature, water arches, team sprays and a spiraling water feature; the active area will feature water cannons, fountains, additional water arches; the toddler area will have a rotating spray feature.
Other guidelines
Splash pads also need an onsite attendant, according to WEDC's guidelines.
Smith said before the coronavirus outbreak, the village was not planning on having an attendant or lifeguard present.
But neither Dobbeck or Smith answered clearly how many attendants they would need to hire or what their role would be in monitoring social distance.
Linda Wickstrom, public information officer for Waukesha County's Department of Health and Human Services, said WEDC's guidelines allows for the splash pad operator to determine staffing.
"Waukesha County Public Health trusts that splash pad operators will continue to create a safe environment for community members," Wickstrom said.
Also, according to the WEDC, employees in a workplace should wear masks if social distancing is not feasible. Wickstrom said she cannot comment on the issue of masks at splash pads.
"The WEDC guidance is silent on (face masks) regarding splash pads," Wickstrom said.
There also needs to be sanitation of the splash pad, according to WEDC. These guidelines include sanitizing areas after use, tables and shared surfaces.
Dobbeck and Smith did not specifically answer if there would be sanitation stations or what the new sanitation procedures would be.
"When we open we will follow whatever guidelines are appropriate at the time," Dobbeck said. "These are subject to change, and we expect them to change often."
Smith said the biggest concern of having the splash pad open is the public's safety.
"It is not worth people getting sick or spreading anything," Smith said. "There are a lot of unknowns, but we want everyone healthy."
Related: Milwaukee County Parks pools and water parks will be closed this summer, and there will be no lifeguards at Bradford Beach
Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KozlowiczCathy.
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