Las Cruces shuts down splash park over standing water, static discharge concerns

If you’re planning to cool off at the Metro Verde Splash Park in Las Cruces, you’ll have to wait a little bit longer.

The city shut off the splash pad due to broken water canon.

“Water’s not intended to pond on the splash pad, it’s intended to drain away from it. So as a result we had to shut it down in order to make the repairs,” City Spokesman Udell Vigil said.

Vigil said the city also received complaints of people feeling static electricity on their feet as they got closer to nearby power lines.

“We’re aware that people are experiencing static discharge in the park itself particularly as they get closer to the transmission lines,” Vigil said. “It’s described as if you’re walking on carpet and you’re getting that little static feeling is what we’re told.”

Vigil said the city is working with El Paso Electric on what can be done to mitigate the problem.

The park that just opened a few weeks ago is located at 7125 Metro Park St. just south of Monte Vista Elementary School.

El Paso Electric Spokesman Jorge De La Torre said EPE does not have authority regarding development under or around the lines.

“Once the city provides the permit to build our only involvement is to ensure our crews have access to the property for maintenance and operation,” De La Torre said.

De La Torre said EPE advised the developer not to build structures within 50 feet of the lines. El Paso Electric also put up signs warning visitors not to fly kites, balloons or drones underneath them.

Vigil told ABC-7 after city leaders hold a meeting on Tuesday, he will have a better idea of when the splash pad will turn back on.

The city said EPE deemed the area safe, and as a safety precaution, it will install signs in English and Spanish notifying visitors of the possibility for non-hazardous static sensations.

It added that those who reported the static electricity were holding some type of metal such as lawn chairs, umbrellas or shade structures.

Visitors who do not handle metal objects are not likely to experience the static sensation.

Until the signs are installed, the city said it will erect temporary fencing to keep the public from the grass area where the static sensations were reported.

There have been no reports of injuries at the park, which is scheduled to reopen this weekend.

It said because of the popularity of the park, the city is looking into the possibility of installing a splash pad at Unidad Park, 1500 E. Hadley Ave.