Tonawanda, N.Y. (WBEN) - The new Paddock Chevrolet Park in the Town of Tonawanda is starting to come together. The new ice rink is available to the public, as well as the new pickleball courts, but the splash pad has faced some technical delays.
"Within the next couple weeks, we should have that open," said Tonawanda Town Councilman Carl Szarek, who notes there have been some inventory delays and noted there needs to be ample time for thorough inspections.
"It will probably open before school starts, to give the kids an opportunity to get cool off, especially with the great weather we've been having this summer. [We'll do] that and a few other refinements that we're going to do. But stop by take a look, it's an exciting place."
New York State Assemblyman Bill Conrad brought House Speaker Carl Heastie to Tonawanda, as the speaker took his tour around the state. Both Conrad and Heastie aided in securing $2 million in state funding for the project.
"Since COVID, I think there's been a renewed interest in modernizing outdoor spaces. And this, this is incredible, what I'm seeing here," said Speaker Heastie with WBEN.
The Town of Tonawanda continues to expand upon their parks and recreational centers, as the town now has an additional four pickleball courts, an ice rink, new soccer and rugby fields, and more within close vicinity to the Paddock Chevrolet Golf Dome, the batting cages and Brighton Golf Course.
In addition to the splash pad area, the town is working on finishing some amenities that compliment the splash pad, like a locker room area complete with showers and restroom facilities.