Splash pads at Hemlock Park open May 16.

DEARBORN — Splash pads being launched at Hemlock and Crowley parks this summer could bring some much needed traction to Dearborn’s neighborhood parks after years of pool closures and dwindling services.

The city announced May 16 as the launch date for the splash pads at the two parks. Crowley is located in west Dearborn, southwest of Michigan Ave. and Telegraph, at Oxford and Westwood streets. Hemlock Park is located on the east end of town, northeast of Schaefer and Ford Road. 

The city selected the two neighborhood parks as the ideal locations for the spray parks because both are considered regional parks with off-street parking and public restrooms. 

“I’m hopeful and excited for the new splash pads being opened at Hemlock and Crowley Parks,” said City Council President Susan Dabaja. “It will provide the neighborhood parents and children a new place to enjoy their time during the summer.”

For the neighborhood children at Hemlock Park, the addition of the splash pads could bring back some of what had been missing for several years. 

Over the last five years or so, the city of Dearborn began closing down a handful of its neighborhood pools as they became too costly to maintain during a period of fiscal instability. Among them was Hemlock Park’s outdoor pool, making the nearest pool for residents in that area at Ford Woods Park, located near Greenfield and Ford Road. 

Longtime residents expressed great disappointment in the decision to axe some of the pools, as many had viewed them as a signature of their neighborhoods. A campaign had even been launched at one point, called “Save Our Pools.” 

While the Aquatics and Parks Department will still be operating five outdoor pool locations this year; At Lapeer, Ford Woods, Ten Eyck, Summer Stevens and Dunworth, the addition of splash pads at Hemlock could bring residents back to a park that at one point had been the center of summer activity in the east Dearborn neighborhoods.

“I understand that this does not necessarily replace the pool closed by the city in 2012,” Dabaja said. “However, when discussions were had regarding the location of a new splash pad in our city, the City Council strongly felt that Hemlock Park was an ideal location.”

The city was able to coordinate with The Wayne County Parks millage to provide funding for the two new splash pads. The equipment was provided by Vortex Midwest. The splash pads were initially under construction last year, but were not able to be finished before fall. 

The city will be kicking off the launch date of the splash pads in style. On Saturday, May 16, Mayor Jack O’Reilly will partake in a ribbon cutting ceremony at noon at Hemlock Park. At 1 p.m., he will head over to Crowley Park for another ribbon cutting ceremony. Hot dogs, drinks and T-shirts will be given away at both ceremonies.

The opening ceremonies will be sponsored by Kroger, Coca-Cola, and the city’s police, fire and Parks and Recreation departments. 

After May 16, the spray parks will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week during warm weather. Equipment is motion activated and will automatically stop spraying when no one is using the area. Both locations will be fenced in. 

Children under the age of 10 must be supervised by a person aged 16 or older while visiting a park. Because the parks will not be staffed, the city is asking residents to be mindful of safety, including inclement weather.

While the splash pads will be available at no cost to residents, large groups consisting of 15 or more individuals who plan on using the splash pads must pay a fee and obtain a permit from the city at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center.