Harrisonburg to break ground on highly anticipated spraygrounds project next week

The Ralph Sampson Park spraygrounds project will break ground on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 9 a.m., at the site of the future play area beside the Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center in Harrisonburg.

Attendees will be able to learn more about the project from Harrisonburg Parks and Recreation staff and see renderings of the new amenity.

It is projected to open in the summer of 2025.

The spraygrounds, at approximately 6,000 square feet in size, will include 36 spray features spread across zones tailored for toddlers, teens and families. The spraygrounds will replace a baseball field in the park.

Interactive elements will allow children to enjoy different experiences across the park, with water spraying up from the ground, dropping out of elevated sprayers and even jetting out of features children can move around themselves.

The project will include a number of other amenities for families, such as shelters and seating areas, restrooms and green space for picnics and other activities.

Designs for the spraygrounds are based on community input gained at a series of public meetings held this spring.

“The Ralph Sampson Park spraygrounds is unlike anything we have in the area, and it’s going to quickly become a gathering place for people across our community,” said Brian Mancini, Harrisonburg Parks & Rec director.

The spraygrounds is one of nearly two dozen American Rescue Plan Act-funded projects – including six Parks & Rec efforts – approved by Harrisonburg City Council in December 2022.

Other recreation-related projects that are either upcoming or completed include:

• a new and improved Kids Castle Playground at Purcell Park
• adding lights and restrooms to the Smithland Athletic Complex
• improvements to allow for an adult athletic field at Thomas Harrison Middle School
• replacement of the Westover Park Skatepark

Community members attending are asked to park in the Simms Center parking lot. The Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center is located at 620 Simms Ave. in Harrisonburg.

For more information, visit https://harrisonburgva.gov/ARPA.

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