Lynners gather at Flax’ new pad

LYNN – Dozens of children were the first to play in the water of Lynn’s new splash pad during the official Flax Pond re-opening ceremony on Wednesday afternoon.Parents, Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy and a number of other city and state officials looked on, enjoying the scenery of the newly improved park on a hot late summer day.”It’s terrific! Look at the kids. They’re having so much fun and it didn’t take them long to figure out how to turn it on themselves,” said Kennedy, who wasn’t afraid to get wet when she accompanied a toddler on the splash pad. “It’s something that the kids can use for the practical purpose of cooling down on really hot days and it keeps them out of the pond.”A new concrete walkway cuts a swath through the park leading to the city’s first splash pad area, which is set with sprinkler heads and ground cover. Other improvements to Flax Pond include installation of new children’s play equipment, benches, a new wooden guard rail along Chestnut Street and a fountain in the pond that lights up at night. Existing basketball and tennis courts were resurfaced and the pond was treated for algae. There will also be a new gazebo installed at the beginning of September.The work totaling $700,000 was paid for with a state and federal grant – one for $490,000 and a second for $210,000 – specifically earmarked for improvements to Flax Pond and the park that surrounds it. According to Community Facilities Specialist Michael Murray, the project contracted by N. Sacca & Sons, Inc., has been in the works for two years.”They did a great job. They were on a tight schedule, but they worked it out,” said Murray. He noted that he and Community Facilities Manager John Moberger oversaw the project. “We pushed the opening up because summer’s almost over and we wanted the kids to be able to use it. The park has been busy every night since the playground went up.”The project was supposed to be completed by June 30 or the city stood to lose the $700,000 in grant money. Community Development Director James Marsh said the city was given an extension to Aug. 1 but sailed past that deadline as well due to several issues, including an abutter to the park who appealed the Department of Environmental Protection’s approval of the project. Marsh said the state took into account that the city had to go through an appeals process, hence the time extensions.As for maintenance, Murray said both the fountain and splash pad are on timers from morning until night. The fountain is on wheels and will be removed from the pond come winter, and the Department of Public Works was given instructions by the manufacturer on how to winterize the splash pad. Outreach Street Workers Antonio Gutierrez and Teresa Vongsa also said they’ll be keeping a good eye on the park to make sure it’s well taken care off.”We drive up here almost every single night and the playground is so utilized. It’s great,” said Vongsa.Mayor Kennedy noted that the next two improvement projects are the restoration of McManus Field and the Lynn Common project, which is ongoing. She said ultimately the gazebo will be made handicapped accessible and lighting and mile markers for walkers will be added once the funding is available.