DOVER, Del. - On a hot summer afternoon at Dover Park, the sounds of children playing echo across the ballfields. But just steps away, one area remains noticeably quiet.
The city's long-awaited splash pad, first announced as part of a major park improvement project, is still not open nearly three years after construction began.
The splash pad is part of a larger Dover Park renovation that also includes a new support building and an inclusive playground. Construction started in 2023, with the project originally expected to open in time for the 2024 summer season.
Instead, the project has faced a series of setbacks.
Dover City Manager Sharon Duca said the delays stemmed from multiple challenges, including supply chain issues, unexpected underground utilities and changes to the building's design.
"We had material delays in terms of getting different components for the building and the splash pad throughout the project. We also came across some issues with the building itself... and we had some site issues," Duca said.
According to Duca, crews discovered water and sewer infrastructure that had not been identified during the design phase, requiring engineers to redesign portions of the project so the utilities could function properly.
The city is now completing final utility work, including fiber installation to the building, while also working through the final approval process with the Delaware Division of Public Health.
"Our biggest unknown right now is with the public health," Duca said. "They need to take a look at the plans and make sure everything is good to go there. That'll be the biggest question, and I think we can come up with a better timeline once that review is complete."
Duca said she understands the community's frustration after multiple missed opening dates.
"I know it's been very disappointing," she said. "There was original hopes that it would be open last year, but we just had too many issues occur during that time. I know the heat has been terrible this year so far, so hopefully we can get that open soon so people can enjoy it before school starts."
The entire Dover Park improvement project—including the splash pad, support building and inclusive playground—started at just over $2 million. Duca said the city later sought and received City Council approval for change orders to address the unexpected construction issues.
While city officials wait for final approvals, many residents remain eager to see the splash pad open.
Clyde Griffin, who leads a summer camp through his local church, said the splash pad would provide another affordable activity for families in the area.
"I believe the splash pad is definitely a necessity," Griffin said. "I believe the kids should have something around the area that they can participate in."
Griffin said his campers often have to travel outside Dover for similar attractions, including Killens Pond State Park.
"If it can start tomorrow, we'll be there tomorrow," he said. "We have a plan to probably go to Killens Pond, but look how far we got to travel. We definitely want something like that to be here."
Camp counselor Deja Earvin, who lives just a few minutes from Dover Park, said she and her son have been eagerly anticipating the splash pad's opening.
"We don't really have anything like that around here," Earvin said. "I live maybe three or four minutes away. We go to Dover Park all the time, and me and my son are always talking about it and how excited we are that they're putting it up. It's just a matter of, I guess, when."
For now, the splash pad remains dry while families continue waiting for the day it finally welcomes its first visitors.
