'Splash pad' nears completion
By Angela Greiner Contributing Writer

Hudson - Over the past 12 years, Hudson has worked to rejuvenate the town's appearance and atmosphere. Much of the money spent was supplied by grants that the town received from the state; grants paid for improvements such as a canal walk, skateboard park, street-scape façade project, playground and pavilion. Another of the projects funded by grants in- cludes a splash pad, which the town is currently completing as part of the $850,000 renovations of the South Street Park.

The splash pad is next door to the recently completed skateboard park. Linda Ghiloni, the director of the Recreation Department, said she hopes that the splash pad will have a chance to open over the next few weeks before being closed for the winter.

"I would love to test the system out and work out the kinks," Ghiloni said.

The water park will feature a reclamation water filtration system that will recycle the water being used, running the water through an underground filtration system similar to that of a pool.

The filtration system cost the project an additional $85,000, and added construction time to the completion of the project, but is well worth it in the long run, Ghiloni said.

"We thought it made a lot of more sense," she said. "You don't want to waste water, and in times of drought, we will not have to shut the system down and close the splash pad."

The park will also feature a small-tot playground and a pavilion, which the town plans to complete by the end of the fall. The Recreation Department is currently looking for volunteers and donations from residents to install the new playground and assist in the landscaping of the new park.

The latest grant that the town received was for nearly $1 million and will allow for further beatification and remodeling projects. About $560,000 of the money will be used at the South Street Park to repair the parking lot as well as to construct a boat launch. This proposed project will make it easier for residents to access the canal walk, parks and downtown area.

The façade project will also benefit from the recent grant, with $100,000 earmarked for the improvement of buildings in the Historic District. The Laruse building at 15 Broad St. was a recipient of past funds, which allowed the windows and siding to be replaced as well the reconstruction of decorative columns.

The public hearing to kick off the grants is planned for Monday Sept. 10 at which time applications for the façade improvement project will begin.

Town officials are planning a full grand opening of the reconstructed South Street Park in the spring 2008.

For now, Ghiloni encouraged residents to use the canal walk and skateboard park. She also encouraged residents who are interested in either volunteering their time or assisting in the landscaping to contact her at the Recreation Depart- ment in the Town Hall.