Universally Accessible Splashpad Unveiled in Oxford Township

Scroll to bottom to view photo gallery and video footage.

The Oxford Township Parks and Recreation Department has reason to celebrate this week, after hosting the successful grand opening of the K.L.R. Splashpad at Seymour Lake Township Park. An estimated 5,000 patrons visited as the facility (the name of which stands for Kids Love Recreation) was unveiled Saturday, July 18 with a car show, food vendors, inflatable games, live entertainment, a ribbon cutting ceremony and a spectacular fireworks display.

The K.L.R. Splashpad is not just any recreation facility. The 6,000 square-foot splashpad is the first of its size in Southeastern Michigan, and possibly the state, to be fully accessible to patrons of all abilities. Grant money was awarded to Oxford Township, much of it due to the proposed barrier-free aspects of the facility. One such grant was awarded in 2008 from the Michigan Recreation and Park Association Foundation, as part of the W.K. Kellogg Access to Recreation grant program. The $240,000 grant contributed greatly to the overall cost of the project.

A local family played a key role in the design of the splashpad facility. DJ Maskill is a student at Oxford High School, and the Maskill family is highly involved in the township park department, participating in many programs the organization offers. DJ, who uses a wheelchair, "was involved with the project from the very beginning," said Ron Davis, director of Oxford Township Parks and Recreation. "He helped us brainstorm, involved classmates in choosing colors and designs, and we were able to use him and his family as a resource, to ensure we were meeting their needs and thinking outside of the box."

Universally accessible features of the park include the Kids Kingdom playground, restrooms, a picnic area, parking area, 12 ft. sidewalks and the many features of the K.L.R. Splashpad. The design of splashpads ensure that there is no standing water, making the activity accessible for children of all ages and abilities, including those in wheelchairs. Besides accessibility, one major benefit of splashpads is safety. Parents who might worry about a young child with limited swimming ability can breathe easy at a splashpad. Within just the first week of operation, the K.L.R. Splashpad has drawn interest from various Park and Recreation professionals and agencies throughout the state. Many professionals have already planned trips to visit the splashpad, to see if a similar facility could be created in their communities. To learn more about the K.L.R. Splashpad and specific accessible features of the park, visit the Oxford Township Parks and Recreation Web site. Visit the MRPA Foundation and W. K. Kellogg  Access to Recreation Web sites to learn more about the Access to Recreation grant program. To read about the K.L.R. Splashpad in the Oakland Press, click here.

Chairman of the Oxford Township Parks and Recreation Commission Rick Laidler and Parks and Recreation Department Director Ron Davis at the entrance to the facility (left), a patron enjoying the grand opening of the K.L.R. Splashpad (center) and Don Sr., Carol and DJ Maskill with Director Ron Davis near the universally accessible entrance to the facility.

Check out the video (left) filmed at the KLR Splashpad in Oxford Township.   View a photo gallery from the event by clicking here.