“This is not just an ordinary splash pad,” said Rich Rosenthal, Medford Parks and Recreation director. “We want to have Medford’s best splash pad. We want this to be to be an imaginative water feature that is bigger and better than the other splash pads.”

The splash pad will be part of a proposed $2.3 million remodel of one of Medford’s oldest parks, located next to Jackson Elementary on Summit Avenue in west Medford. Currently the city has about a half-dozen splash pads at various parks.

The sprawling splash pad at Jackson Park could have a structure with stairs, imitation trees and other features.

“It’s a splash pad, but it’s also a play structure,” Rosenthal said.

As part of the remodel, an aging 1960-era pool, which has been decommissioned since the opening of Rogue X, will be demolished this summer.

“It’s quite the process to remove the pool,” Rosenthal said.

The aging Jackson Pool will be demolished this summer to make way for the largest splash pad in Medford. City of Medford photo

The aging, leaking pool at Jackson Park was replaced by the two new indoor pools at Rogue X, which opened last year.

Rosenthal said the loss of the pool at Jackson was one of the reasons the city is building such a large splash pad.

During a recent meeting, Medford City Council unanimously approved filing an application for an up-to $1 million grant from the state of Oregon that is needed for the Jackson Park project. The application deadline is April 1, and the city should know by fall if it has been awarded the grant.

If approved, the grant, along with $1.4 million set aside in the city’s park improvement fund, will provide the money needed for all the new features.

“We believe this project will be a very strong candidate,” Rosenthal said.

If the grant isn’t successful this year, Rosenthal said the city will apply again in the near future. The grant program is administered through Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

Since 2008, the city of Medford has received nearly $3 million in lottery grants for parks.

These grants have helped remodel or build Lithia & Driveway Fields, Lone Pine Park, Oregon Hills Park, Cedar Links Park, the Olsrud Family Community Playground in Bear Creek Park, and Howard School Park.

An existing building next to Jackson pool will be preserved, potentially providing storage facilities, a small meeting space and a location for the mechanicals needed to operate the splash pad.

Other features in the park remodel include a new playground, a bike skills area, a shaded pavilion, sand volleyball, refurbishment of the existing restrooms and a large off-leash dog walk area and lots of shaded areas near the splash pad.

A survey of local residents indicated strong support for shaded picnic areas.

The upgraded park facility will be available for birthday party and event rentals.

Over the past three years, work has already transformed other parts of the park.

Fagone Field, which was used less after the completion of the sports park in south Medford, has been brought up to modern standards for younger softball and baseball players. New bleachers were also installed.

“It’s now being used extensively,” Rosenthal said.

Fagone Field is about 4 acres of the 10.5-acre Jackson Park.

Councilor Garrett West applauded the proposed park remodel at a recent council meeting.

“I think it’s sad we’re going to be losing Jackson pool, but it’s time,” he said. “I’m glad we’re getting a splash pad for the kids in west Medford.”