St. Charles Parish splash park will open full-time in June

Opened last year, St. Charles Parish’s Ormond Spray Park appears to be a splashing success.

“We are anticipating more visitors this year since this will be our first full summer,” said Duane Foret, director of the parish Parks and Recreation Department. “Currently, 23 private parties are booked, and we expect that number to increase based on the calls we take in reference to the Spray Park.”

The 3,800-square-foot splash park highlights a $1.2 million renovation of the Ormond park in Destrehan. The 5-acre park also will include two completely redesigned baseball and softball fields, a football field, batting cages, upgraded playground equipment, new pavilions and a walking path.

At the time funding was approved for the work, project proponent, Councilwoman Wendy Benedetto, said, “ … memories will be made that will be cherished for years to come.”

The splash park if the only public facility in the parish with a water feature. The padding of the park is motion-activated so water is not wasted.

Foret said the park has become a popular place to hold birthday parties and private parties. It can conduct two parties at a time from 10 a.m. until noon during the season and on weekends in May.

The park will begin full-time operation June 2, from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. daily Tuesdays through Sundays.

Foret said they have finished bringing in the large amount of dirt for fields at Ormond Community Park and just finished preparing the field for seeding. The baseball and softball fields will be available for use by next season.