Tinicum Township Park’s Splash Pad Closes

A popular Tinicum Township cooling spot has permanently closed.

The splash pad water attraction in Governor Printz Park opened in March 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic shut it down the following year.

Since that time, all the newly installed splash pad features and water piping have been removed. According to FOX 29 News, all that's left of the former splash pad is a concrete slab on the ground.

The report noted that in August 2024 township manager David Schreiber said the township paid $100,000 to build the splash pad. It was part of a $2 million dollar renovation of Governor Printz Park. Schreiber further indicated that the high level of maintenance involved and the cost to supply water to the splash pad exceeded what the township had anticipated to operate it.

Township commissioners ultimately decided to close the splash pad after one season because of those factors and several acts of vandalism. 

"For these reasons, the Board of Commissioners did not open the pad after the pandemic," he said.

Tinincum Township officials also said several day care and summer camp groups declined to obtain insurance certificates for their groups, which created a liability that also contributed to the closure.

FOX 29 spoke with Maqui Rideout of Southwest Philadelphia, who brought his kids to the park to cool off on Monday evening. He was surprised to see the splash pad was no longer there.

"I came here for the sprinklers for the kids 'cause it's really hot outside, but I guess they ripped it out." said Rideout.