When the splash pad at James F. Holland Park in Palm Coast was unveiled in May 2021, city staff were extremely optimistic about the benefits the facility would provide for youth amenities in the city. It was to be the crowning achievement of Mayor Milissa Holland’s second term (she’d resign for unrelated reasons not long after). In less than a year’s time, the splash pad was in such decayed state that legal action was being considered.
Details of the Settlement
That would ultimately lead to years of lawsuits against the contractors who built a splash pad that proved defective. The pad is back open today, at a cost of $3 million to Palm Coast taxpayers. In a statement released last week by a city spokesperson, a settlement of $2.375 million was announced. The principal damages were estimated at $2.4 million.
The Palm Coast city government is looking at a probable loss in the grand scheme of things, between the total costs that went into the splash pad and the legal fees over the last three-plus years against the $2.375 million settlement. They may fall over $1 million short of getting their money back. The splash pad does not directly generate revenue for the city when it’s open, as it’s a free amenity within a public park.
Two companies are involved in the other side of the settlement: Aquatic Consulting Engineers and S&ME Inc. The terms of the settlement were presented to the City Council earlier this month and given non-binding approval, setting the Council up for a formal approval at Tuesday’s business meeting.
Inheriting the Problem
Construction began on the splash pad in February 2018, along with other elements of Phase II renovations to Holland Park. It opened in May 2021, with flaws and safety hazards being identified later that summer. The splash pad then closed in October 2021, with an independent engineering analysis having been conducted in the following months. In November 2022 the city sued several contractors involved in the botched construction job. The pad reopened as a seasonal amenity in July 2024 after a rebuild by Saboungi Construction.
“This was an issue our Council inherited, but we were determined to see it through,” said Mayor Mike Norris in a city press release. “We worked hard to resolve the litigation, recover as much taxpayer money as possible, and make sure the splash pad was rebuilt the right way. Today, our families have an exceptional amenity they can enjoy, and we made sure our community wasn’t left footing the whole bill.”
Chris Gollon is a Flagler County resident since 2004, as well as a staple of the local independent music scene and avid observer of Central Florida politics, arts, and recreation.
