Rock Creek Park may have a second chance at a splash pad.

The Dawson County Board of Commissioners is expected to vote this week on installing a water feature at the park donated by the Dawson County Rotary Club.

I really think this is going to be a great attraction for the park, Parks and Rec Director Lisa Henson said at last Thursdays work session.

Originally scheduled to be ready by Memorial Day and to have water features spraying over a Rotary Club emblem, the project is now set to be ready by July and have a variety of water-spraying faucets.

We felt it would be more exciting for kids if we had more above-ground features, Rotary Club President Vernon Smith said of the change in concept. Its more interactive and has more things to splash water with.

The revised project, paid for by Rotary Club, will cost $76,100, almost twice as much as the original concept. But Smith says the club has raised enough money to support the project.

We wanted to have something that would really complement the park and be for the county and the kids. Its all about having a great place to play, Smith said.

The club also will donate $1,000 to the county each year to pay for any necessary maintenance or repairs. Though Smith said the new splash pad concept should have low maintenance and overhead. There are no chemicals, so it is safe for the environment and kids, Smith said. Etowah Water and Sewer has agreed to donate $5,000 worth of water each year for the life of the project.

The cost of the project to the county is $350 each year for insurance.

Once open, the splash pad would operate Memorial Day through Labor Day.

If approved, the pad would be installed next to the pavilion, which is beside the playground. In addition to the water features, the pad also will include benches, landscaping and signs denoting Rotary Club and splash pad sponsors.

The pad operates on a push-button timer and sensors with pressure-controlled sprinkler heads.

If the county approves the splash pad, Smith said ground is expected to be broken in just a few days. Were extremely excited about the splash pad, Smith said.

In addition to voting on the pad project, commissioners also are expected to vote on an inter-governmental agreement with Etowah Water and a fee waiver request from the Rotary Club.

The commission will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Dawson County Government Building, 25 Justice Way.