Peachtree City Splash Pad Opens Early, Free of Charge

Peachtree City officials kicked off the summer season at Glenloch Recreation Complex Saturday, handing out popsicles and playing summer tunes while dozens of community members enjoyed the splash pad and pool.

But the crowning event for many was the re-opening celebration of the city’s public splash pad, which is free of charge for the first time since it was built in 2017. Mayor Kim Learnard and City Council Members Johnson, Holland and Brown cut a large red ribbon held by local children to mark the occasion.

“Welcome to the free of charge splash pad at Glenloch Park!” Mayor Kim Learnard said to a round of cheers and applause. “We are so excited that this has become a reality.”

Learnard, who is up for re-election this year, ran on a platform that included “no longer nickel and diming young families” with unnecessary user fees at public facilities. She has also overseen elimination of credit card readers on field lights throughout the city.

“It is no secret that this is a priority of mine,” Councilwoman Laura Johnson said, adding that her support for kids and families drew her to community involvement initially. Johnson is an active mother of school-aged children.

Councilwoman Suzanne Brown and Councilman Clint Holland were also present for the festivities and offered their enthusiasm and support for the change. Brown noted that she would not want to pay to take her three grandchildren to the splash pad. 

Earlier this month, Learnard and the city council voted unanimously to remove user fees on the splash pad. Residents had made it known through public comment that they did not want to be charged to take their kids to the public splash pad in town, and were driving to Fayetteville and Newnan to use their free splash pads instead. 

The city opened the Glenloch splash pad a few weeks earlier than in years prior, on May 9, so that kids could enjoy the water as soon as the weather changed.

The changes have been met with enthusiasm and positivity. “Thank you!!!” wrote one Peachtree City mother on the mayor’s social media page. “It’s not even Memorial Day yet, and we’ve gone half a dozen times!” 

“The best news ever! We…can’t wait to keep going!” wrote another.

The Glenloch splash pad is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. six days a week and will be closed on Mondays with the exception of Memorial Day and Labor Day, when it will remain open.