Less than four years after its last and almost total make-over–a 30-month slog that cost $4.7 million–James F. Holland Memorial Park’s latest renovation, at just over $5 million, is nearing completion, and with it a new “splash pad” that will open daily for families this spring and summer. New playground features were made accessible this winter.
“I am so excited to celebrate the completion of all of the magnificent renovations to Holland Park,” said Mayor Milissa Holland. The park is named after her father, one of the city founders and a member opf the original City Council until his death in 2002. “This amenity has been transformed into a regional attraction that will be a family favorite for multi-generational guests in our community for years to come.”
Construction on the multi-million dollar phase two improvements of one of Palm Coast’s most popular parks, at 18 Florida Park Drive, began in May of 2019, but not without a little controversy. A 3-2 council approved the construction phase that included the splash pad, with then-Council member Bob Cuff joining Holland and Nick Klufas to give the go-ahead. Then-Council member Jack Howell voiced strong opposition to the splash pad, saying it would be a magnet for lawsuits. Council member Eddie Branquinho joined him to oppose the plan, but on financial grounds.
Splash pads have become a common feature of public and theme parks.
Howell wasn’t wrong, though it’s difficult to gauge the relative severity of the issue without a census of splash pads measured against the incidence of lawsuits. Still, in just the past 12 months, the city of Lake Jackson, Texas, faced a $1 million lawsuit in the death of Josiah McIntyre, a 6-year-old boy alleged to have contracted an amoeba while playing in the city’s splash pad. Edwardsville, a small town in southern Illinois, faces a $200,000 lawsuit over a 4-year-old boy who broke his leg at that city’s splash pad. A family is suing the city of Bourne, Mass., for almost $1 million over their child’s loss of a toe on a splash-pad slide.
The splash pad design at Holland Park reflects the river, ocean, lakes and swampy areas. There are 41 spray features – water fountains and sprayers – shaped like a frog, turtle, octopus, whale, manta ray, starfish, sand dollar, lily pad and cattail. Nine spray loops were also installed and soon children will be able to spray their friends with water cannons.
On the playground, about 20 new pieces of equipment were installed for toddlers and children. Little ones will be able to climb a treehouse, explore a steam engine and carriage, and operate a play dozer. The playground is designed so children can develop their motor skills, learn through play and take on new challenges in a safe environment. There are also inclusive elements with accessibility features added to the playground as well as new family swings to climb on and sway back and forth together.
Other features of phase two improvements include:
- Covered pavilions added at the playground, small dog park, horseshoe, and shuffleboard areas to provide more shade;
- New bocce ball court with shade canopy covering, deck with seating, lighting, and hydro-irrigation system for the clay court;
- Restroom update at pavilion 3;
- Construction of a new maintenance building;
- New LED lighting;
Parks and Recreation staff are following all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for safety and cleanliness. The full CDC guidelines are accessible here.
Phase one renovations upgraded infrastructure and utilities, new playground equipment was added including the popular zip line. Sand volleyball, two new basketball courts and two horseshoe pits were also constructed.
Holland Park offers 26 acres of diverse recreational amenities and is also the home to the Palm Coast Historical Society headquarters. Visitors can also play tennis, pickleball, shuffleboard, basketball, horseshoes, volleyball, baseball/softball, and utilize the multi-use fields for soccer, football, etc. There is also a three-quarter mile trail and a dog park.
The next major public park project on the city’s five-year capital improvement plan is the construction of a neighborhood park in Quail Hollow in 2022 and some renovations at the municipal pool once known as Frieda Zamba.
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Eileen Araujo says
For that kind of tax money, there better be someone waiting with a towel to dry these kids too
Gina Weiss says
Kudos to Holland! What a great idea if not for down here in sunny Florida than where else a splash park! For families to enjoy such a refreshing, invigorating oasis in the warmer months ahead and believe me it will be so appreciated for families who do not have pools to get out of the house to enjoy the great outdoors with their children. It’s about time that projects in communities are being developed for the benefit of all to enjoy. I think it’s rather selfish for some to be touting about lawsuits when they have pools in their backyard and flight school planes flying over our communities. With that mentality really anyone can be hurt anywhere: children in a playground, local public swimming places, gyms, walking a boardwalk, etc. After all, fun should not just be for the few but for all. Can’t wait for the park which is planned in Quail Hallow! Much better than these big developers coming in trying to make money with over development of our precious land and natural habitat.
Jan says
Wonderful park! Very grateful to have this gem in our community.
Skibum says
Kudos to the City of Palm Coast for the insightful and transformative work over the past couple of years that has made Holland Park such a show piece for what a city park can and should be. A lot of tax dollars have been spent on this project, and we have seen some vandalism take place there recently during the recent construction of the splash pad area. With all of the upgrades and increase in people using this gem of a park, I’m wondering if it would also be good idea for the city to install a few security cameras that might, if nothing else, monitor and provide a time stamped record of vehicle traffic at the entrance area and parking areas within the park. Security cameras would not only help to deter criminal behavior, but would be very beneficial to FCSO as a tool to help solve any crimes occurring within this city park.
metoo says
Disney World North. Is this for the whiners on Florida Park Drive?
TR says
This is a dumb idea. With this pandemic that doesn’t look like there is going to be an end any time soon. Lets have a bunch of people gather in a place where they can not wear a mask while in close proximity of each other and in the water. Great idea to the rocket scientist who thought of this idea. that money could have been used for a better solution for a number of bigger problems throughout the city. Oh but wait, because the park has the mayors name on it lets waste the money on that and ad a splash park. More tax money wasted.
beachbum says
A 5million dollar splash park when the ocean is in our backyard. go figure!
Concerned Parent says
Did the 5 million dollars include a filtration system on the water being used in the splash pad. Because most splash pads and even the ones at big theme parks (Universal, Disney, & Sea World) do not have one. They instead have signs that read “DON’T SPRAY WATER INTO OTHERS FACES, DON’T DRINK THE WATER. THIS IS RECIRCULATED WATER” So the water that comes out is the same water that went in the drain. Have these kinds of warning signs been put up?
I hope parents are really cautious before taking their kids to this park. Think about it we can’t keep parents from sending kids to school sick, do you think those same parents will think twice about taking their sick kid to the splash pad. Nope.
Gina Weiss says
Hi Mayor Holland, can you please add another splash park to the park intended for Quail Hollow? We all would love to have one, maybe this time for adults . I would love to sit under one of those splash pads with my folding chair!
COME ON DOWN! says
metoo: you’re invited come have some fun with us, the park is for everyone to enjoy!
Gina Weiss says
From what I read this park was planned way before the pandemic AND I have seen crowded beaches down in Flagler with bike week and Spring break last March with NO MASK in site. What’s wrong with adding such a wonderful feature to our community for our citizens to enjoy? The beach is not for everyone everyday, this is convenient and fun. As the saying goes can’t please everyone all of the time and also misery loves company, take your pick.
PARTY GIRL says
I mean like REALLLLLY like some people are just no fun!
PISSED OFF says
GIVE ME A BREAK, so you say ALL those mega bucks theme parks do not have a filtration system but little ole Palm Coast should ? I think if a kid is sick a parent is not going to take that child out and throw the child into the water. You shouldn’t get beach water in your mouth either with all the c–p and waste that is dumped into our oceans , and what about public pools with people peeing in the water next to you, so let’s get rid of that too?
BLESSED IN PALM COAST says
Some of these people remind me of Kathy Bates in the movie MISERY! Let’s give credit to Mayor Holland on her some of her achievements rather than always knocking down a person. She did play a key and vital role in obtaining the medical hub here in PC which will attract young people for educational purposes thus giving people jobs and having more doctors and other health care workers coming into the community and supporting it. I would like to ask some of these pessimists on here what have you done for Palm Coast lately ? Calling the community surrounding this fabulous park whiners, what’s that about? You all don’t know how lucky you all are by just living down here in such a pastoral environment, maybe you all should take a trip on up to NY where the real misery is with lockdowns, zero digit temps, and most likely falling on ice and breaking your hips, then take a trip back to our new medical hub featuring great ortho surgeons to get your new hip replacement! Appreciate and be thankful for what you have.
Mary Fusco says
I really think this is a great idea. I wish PC had something like this when my grandchildren were young and came to stay with us. My first question is will there be a Park Employee on hand to monitor what kids are doing? We all know that the first mishap will result in a law suit for the City. Most parents will be sitting with their heads in their phones. My second question is how long will it be before it is vandalized and will just be sitting there. Sad that we have to think this way but, this is the world we live in.
Shark says
The bottom line for this white elephant is actually ten million dollars !!!!
MATERIAL GIRL says
Relax, it’s only money, we will all be dead long enough!
Concerned Parent says
I am SOOOO sorry I am concerned for the kids in the county. I have seen what can happen to a kid that gets an infection from these kinds of places. I myself got one from a well known water park near here. I would not wish that on anyone. It is terrible and if not caught fast enough can kill. Especially in little bodies. And the difference is a public pool has so much chlorine it kills most things and they can close down if say some one throws up or poops in the water. The splash pad is not going to have anyone monitoring it and no such chemicals. So no one to shut it down and sanitize.
Everyone can make their own choices. I will choose not to use it.
PISSED OFF says
So you say Disney, SeaWorld and Universal does not have filtration systems and I’m sure thousands of more people go to them than what will come to our little one. You claim that parents are going to bring their SICK children and how do you know about the sanitation of it, maybe there is a plan in place! Anyone can pick up an infection anywhere they go, public rest rooms, restaurants, movie theaters, ocean water, etc. Bike week and spring break is coming up and there will be plenty of non mask wearers spreading COVID, frequenting these places, the SUPERSPREADERS . Does this alarm you?