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By the time the Farmville splashpad reopens next year, there will be a few more pieces assembled on the property. It’s just going to cost a bit more than what the town staff expected. Originally, the plan was to buy a prefabricated bathroom, complete with changing rooms for residents to use at the splashpad.

“Then we discovered that is not a possibility,” Farmville Finance Director Julie Moore told the council at their Oct. 2 work session. “You cannot find a prefab bathroom with changing rooms.” 

With that in mind, the town staff instead went to an engineer, asking them to draw up plans for the bathroom and get a quote, both for the plans and the cost of the construction. 

They requested plans for a 930-square foot bathroom, which would have two women’s stalls, one of which is ADA compliant, a shower and changing room, (plus) two men’s stalls, two men’s urinals, a shower and changing room on the men’s side. All of that will cost an estimated $296,736, in addition to the $36,000 engineering and design fee. The problem, and the reason Farmville staff came back to council for a decision, is only $150,000 was budgeted this year for the project. 

“If you move this route, we would have to increase the budget,” said Farmville Town Manager Dr. Scott Davis. “It is a lot of money. The question is do you want to build something that’s going to last there. We already have a park, we already have the splashpad, the plan is in the future (to add) some courts, basketball/pickleball, before a center is ever built or opened.” 

An investment in the splashpad

Council members agreed that the investment made sense, based on the town’s future plans. 

“A nicely constructed building that would be permanent versus something that could wear out, that makes sense,” council member Daniel Dwyer said. 

Donald Hunter agreed, pointing out that in the past, previous councils had a habit of putting some things off and then having to pay a whole lot more for them later. 

“We do have the funds and we want to have a top notch facility out there,” Hunter said, with his comments echoed by fellow council member John Hardy. 

Thomas Pairet, meanwhile, wondered why the town staff couldn’t do it on their own. 

“Once upon a time, I know the town was able to build whatever they wanted to within our own structure, as far as our employees,” Pairet said. “Do we not have that capability to do that ourselves?” 

The answer was no. Simply put, Davis and Moore said there’s not enough staff members to assign some to take on this project, while others pick up their regular workload. 

“That’s a big construction undertaking for public works, for what we want,” Davis said. 

Mayor Brian Vincent pointed out to council that the number one request from residents in terms of the splashpad was to have a changing station and bathrooms on the property. And that as more recreational development happened, such as basketball courts, or trails connecting to High Bridge, then it would just grow in use. 

Council members agreed by consensus to give Moore the authority to increase funds and move forward with the project.