Nolan Blakemore, 9, Xander Zalenski, 5, and Leo Thorngate, 6, from left, all of Wheeling, splash around in the city of Wheeling's newest recreational feature Monday near WesBanco Arena. City officials celebrated a grand opening of the new splash pad that was recently completed and opened to the public near Heritage Port. (Photos by Eric Ayres)

WHEELING – Officials in the city of Wheeling gathered Monday afternoon at the city’s newest recreational feature – yet another downtown investment that has already made a big splash with visitors to Heritage Port.

Although the new splash pad outside of WesBanco Arena near Heritage Port was originally scheduled to open closer to Memorial Day and the beginning of the summer, the recently completed “sprayground” has been a welcome late-summer addition to the downtown area. People of all ages have been drawn to the spraying jets of water in recent weeks for a refreshing break from the relentlessly warm temperatures and the ongoing drought that has gripped the Ohio Valley.

City leaders on Monday afternoon held an official grand opening and ribbon cutting for the splash pad – marking the end of at least one of the many construction zones that have become a common sight in the city.

“We’ve got all of these projects going on in downtown Wheeling, and of all the projects that we have, this is probably the smallest one – so we’re checking it that off the box as a completed project,” Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron said. “But it’s also one that’s had a great impact. From the time that this splash pad has been operational, it has been a very popular feature of our waterfront.”

Ground was broken on the splash pad project back in April, and officials originally hoped that the site would be open at the end of May. However, several delays prevented the project from being completed earlier in the season. Officials noted that a labyrinth of underground utilities outside of Wesbanco Arena created a challenge for the network of pipes and wires needed for the installation of the new splash pad.

Wheeling used a chunk of its federal pandemic relief money from the American Rescue Plan Act to bring the new splash pad to life.

“Coming out of the pandemic, the city was looking at ways to enhance the quality of life in the city,” Herron said. “We had the ARPA funds – which emphasized the promotion of outdoor open-air enhancements.”

Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron speaks during an official grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday celebrating the completion of the city’s new splash pad near WesBanco Arena and Heritage Port. (Photos by Eric Ayres)

Outdoor dining and outdoor recreation improvements were not only deemed as eligible expenses for the post-COVID relief money, they were targeted as priority projects for communities recovering from the pandemic, officials indicated.

“We looked at other cities, and all of the larger cities had beautiful outdoor water features,” Herron noted. “So we felt that we had the perfect spot right here in front of WesBanco Arena to accomplish not only what some of the ARPA focus was, but also to make use of this space. The original Heritage Port plan called for this area to be open so when you came down 14th Street, you could see the river.”

Officials noted that the splash pad at Heritage Port is not quite like other splash pads people may see at public swimming pools – with giant water buckets that dump water on children and other interactive features. Herron stressed that visitors are welcome to get wet in the splash pad if they like, but they can also treat it like a high-tech fountain and simply watch the dancing water, which is illuminated with colored lights at night.

“You can play in this splash pad,” he said. “It’s also a beautiful and relaxing water feature. We’ve already had requests for benches. If you come down here at night, you can see the lights that are reflected in the water jets – it’s a beautiful sight. We’re very pleased with this project.”

The city spent approximately $362,000 on the splash pad project, which was designed by CT Consultants and built by Savage Construction. Herron thanked Assistant City Manager Bill Lanham, Greater Wheeling Sports and Entertainment Authority Executive Director Kelly Tucker and personnel from the city’s Operations Division, which operates and maintains the new splash pad.

Nolan Blakemore, 9, of Wheeling, makes a splash in the city of Wheeling’s new splash pad near Heritage Port on Monday. (Photos by Eric Ayres)

City officials and crews cut the ribbon to celebrate the splash pad’s opening. In addition to Herron, Tucker and Lanham, City Council members Connie Cain and Ty Thorngate, Fire Chief Jim Blazier, City Clerk Jessica Zalenski, Mayor Denny Magruder and others also took part in the celebration.

Magruder served as the previous executive director of the Greater Wheeling Sports and Entertainment Authority, managing WesBanco Arena. Before he retired from that position, he said his support of the original idea of the splash pad outside the arena was actually a little wishy-washy.

“I want to be honest – a little over two years ago when this project first came up … I didn’t think it was a good idea,” Magruder said. However, visiting the newly opened splash pad over the past couple of weeks has certainly changed his mind on the city’s dazzling new feature. “Wow – seeing the kids here and the grandparents, it’s wonderful.”

Magruder said he had the opportunity to visit two riverfront cities that are considered to be in “some state of renaissance” during a recent trip – Chattanooga, Tennessee and Owensboro, Kentucky.

“Both of those cities had splash pads on the waterfront,” Magruder said. “I think it’s a symbol of renaissance. And as we look around, we know that our city is in a renaissance right now. So thanks to everybody that has had anything to do with this to everybody that’s investing, participating and visiting our downtown. We say thank you. This is the epitome of renaissance.”

Wheeling Mayor Denny Magruder speaks during an official grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday celebrating the completion of the city’s new splash pad near WesBanco Arena and Heritage Port. (Photos by Eric Ayres)

Nolan Blakemore, 9, Xander Zalenski, 5, and Leo Thorngate, 6, from left, all of Wheeling, splash around in the city of Wheeling’s newest recreational feature Monday near WesBanco Arena. City officials celebrated a grand opening of the new splash pad that was recently completed and opened to the public near Heritage Port. (Photos by Eric Ayres)

The new downtown Splash Pad on Water Street near WesBanco Arena and Heritage Port in Wheeling has already become a popular attraction both day and night. Lights illuminate the dancing streams of water in the evening making the new “sprayground” an eye-popping new feature.(Photos by Eric Ayres)