XENIA — A splash pad and enhanced playground are one step closer to becoming a reality at Xenia Station.

In a special session Thursday, Xenia City Council approved the site plan and splash pad design and also chose a playground option, which will replace the current equipment there. The playground will be located immediately west of the historic caboose while the splash pad will be located in the northwest portion near the existing picnic shelter.

Approximately $150,000 has been budgeted for the splash pad and $180,000 for the playground. About $600,000 has been budgeted for the entire project. Ideally it will be completed by June 2016, according to city officials.

“We’re excited for this project,” City Manager Brent Merriman said.

The splash pad will have a bicycle theme and will feature upright “wheels’ with center-aimed sprayers acting as the spokes. There will also be an X embedded in the ground, which council members would like painted in blue — the main color of Xenia Community Schools. Perimeter sprayers will have images of bicycles and sprayers in the middle would be in the shape of an X.

The playground will feature historic storefronts, several slides and climbing apparatuses and has a general railroad theme. The surface will consist of crushed rubber to help prevent injuries in case kids fall.

“This is a neat addition … to our community,” Merriman said.

Additional features include a new walkway connecting a new bike path to the existing Miami Avenue bike path; decorative fences surrounding the playground and splash pad for safety and security; and a central plaza/walkway between the splash pad and playground, which will provide seating and access to the shelter and caboose.

One drawback is the loss of 25 parking spaces, lowering the number of available spaces to 41. However through better utilization of the parking lot and existing space on Miami Avenue, there may be the same amount of parking available, according to City Planner Brian Forschner.

“You could recover the spaces that you lose in the concept,” he said.

An artist’s rendering of one part of the playground coming to Xenia Station.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2015/11/web1_Playground-B-1.jpgAn artist’s rendering of one part of the playground coming to Xenia Station.

The rest of the playground.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2015/11/web1_Playground-B-2.jpgThe rest of the playground.

Submitted illustrations A bicycle-themed splashpad will be installed at Xenia Station. Water will shoot up from the ground and will also spray into the above-ground “wheels.” Center-aimed sprayers will shoot water, which will act as the spokes.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2015/11/web1_Splashground.jpgSubmitted illustrations A bicycle-themed splashpad will be installed at Xenia Station. Water will shoot up from the ground and will also spray into the above-ground “wheels.” Center-aimed sprayers will shoot water, which will act as the spokes.