ZILLAH, Wash.- Halloween in Zillah meant two big celebrations hosted by the city. A trunk or treat with city officials and agencies was preceded by a groundbreaking ceremony for the Zillah Splash Park.
Set to be built at Stewart Park, it’s a project City Council has been working on since the Zillah pool was closed in 2016.
The city’s Mayor, Dr. Scott Carmack, says the closure of the 90-year-old pool came as a result of too many maintenance issues. The pool was a fixture of community and there was a need to find a replacement option for families.
“Pools are very expensive to run, and we know that the kids and the families and the grandparents of this community needs something to recreate and be able to enjoy in these hot summer months that we have,” says Dr. Carmack.
In breaking ground on the splash park, families joined in costume with their children to witness the occasion. Of course, with the event happening on Halloween, the city had to have some tricks and treats up their sleeves.
After turning the dirt to officially break ground, Mayor Carmack’s shovel found a box under the dirt.
“Kids we got something!” said the mayor. “We found something!”
Dozens of children in costume rushed the scene to see what was under the dirt. Mayor Carmack opened the capsule to reveal the first candy to be handed out for the trunk or treat.
“It was really special for the kids and we’re happy to do that,” says City Council Member Janice Gonzales. “We wanted to try and include all the kids as much as possible and the families as much as possible in this whole process.”
For Gonzales, the night marked a celebration of something that’s been in the works for seven years. It’s about providing fun and safe options for youth in Zillah and surrounding communities.
“We wanted to make it fun for the kids, we wanted to make it fun for the family because this is really, as I said before, something we’ve been working for a while and we’re very excited that we’ve finally reached that goal,” said Council woman Gonzales.
The splash park at Stewart Park will begin construction this winter, before opening in Spring of 2024.
