The Turner-Friendship Park splash pad in Turner-Friendship Park remains temporarily closed as municipal officials continue monitoring the effects of maintenance work tied to a nearby water pump system.
Penn Hills first alerted residents May 19 that the splash pad is closed because of “an issue at a nearby water treatment facility.” A Facebook post from Penn Hills Parks and Recreation the day before noted it was open for the season.
The municipality issued a Savvy Citizen alert May 26, noting the splash pad would remain closed until further notice.
According to Scott Shepard, superintendent of Public Works and Parks for Penn Hills, the closure is connected to maintenance being performed by sanitary service crews on a water pump located on Jade Drive.
“Sanitary services was doing maintenance on a water pump,” Shepard said May 27. “They had the park’s water cut in case there was any blowback.”
Officials said the shutdown was precautionary and aims to prevent any possible contamination or disruption to the splash pad’s water system while the maintenance work is underway.
Shepard said the issue has not broadly impacted the municipality’s overall water supply and appears limited to the splash pad area and park systems connected to the work site.
“Hopefully, the park will be back up and running in the next day or two,” Shepard said.
The splash pad, a popular summer destination for families in Penn Hills, typically sees increased attendance as temperatures rise heading into June. Municipal officials have not yet announced a reopening date but said updates will continue to be posted through Penn Hills’ communication channels.
Residents with questions can contact the Penn Hills Department of Parks & Recreation at 412-798-2147.