Rock Creek Park will soon have a place for residents to cool off during hot summer days.

Groundbreaking for the Rotary Club Splash Pad is set for Thursday at 2 p.m. inside the Rock Creek Park just off Hwy. 9 South. The community is invited to attend.

The splash pad is a project the Rotary Club wants to donate to the county. The pad will be built next to the pavilion and the playground at Rock Creek Park. It will include a variety of water-spraying faucets and the Rotary Clubs logo. The faucets and sprinklers will operate on a timed switch. Seating will be available at the structure.

The only cost to the county would be $350 per year for insurance for what is considered an extra playground. Rotary Club will give the county $1,000 each year for maintenance costs.

The Dawson County Board of Commissioners voted last month on an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Etowah Water and Sewer Authority to provide water for the splash pad. The agreement says that Etowah will provide water for the feature to be built at Rock Creek Park in exchange for the countys providing maintenance to about 1,000 fire hydrants throughout the county.

The county is already performing these services, County Attorney Joey Homans told the commissioners, referring to fire hydrant maintenance. This agreement would memorialize what the county does, but it does add a benefit to EtowahWater and Sewer Authority because now we are contractually bound to perform these services.

The agreement is for 15 years, the estimated life-expectancy of the splash pad.

Etowah Water and Sewer Authority also voted to execute the agreement at its monthly vote session June 10. I think this is avery good agreement for both sides, Etowahs attorney, Linda Dunlavy, said.