The Rev. Frank Miller loads the last of the 50 bushels of donated apples on Friday at the Parkersburg Salvation Army. (Photo by Chad Adkins)
The building depicted above, referred to as the Opera House and situated on the west side of Market Street between Seventh and Eighth streets, would become the famous Camden Theatre. (Photo Provided)
Jennifer Gardner, left, a 2013 graduate of Parkersburg High School, Friday was named deputy press secretary for the West Virginia secretary of state. At right is Secretary of State Mac Warner. (Photo Provided)
Edward Murphy Jr. and his attorney, George Cosenza, await sentencing Friday morning at the Washington County Courthouse. (Photo by Michele Newbanks)
Patsy C. Perry
A child reaches down to touch the mirror finish of a racing boat on display on Front Street Friday night. Fifteen of the boats set to race in the Marietta Riverfront Roar Saturday and Sunday were parked downtown for spectators to see. (Photo by Michael Kelly)
A child plunges down a bounce house slide Friday night on Greene Street, part of a complex of inflatable attractions set up during Riverfront Roar weekend. The powerboat races will be held Saturday and Sunday afternoon. (Photo by Michael Kelly)
Members of OYO belt out a tune at the beer garden overlooking the Ohio River as Riverfront Roar gets underway on Friday night. (Photo by Michael Kelly)
Spectators admire a racing boat parked on Front Street Friday night. The Riverfront Roar races will be held Saturday and Sunday afternoons. (Photo by Michael Kelly)
A lifeguard, left, watches as a child splashes into the exit path of the repaired tube slide Friday at the Parkersburg City Park splash pad. The facility reopened Friday afternoon following an inspection by the West Virginia Division of Labor. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Children play on the reopened splash pad at Parkersburg City Park Friday, following an inspection by the West Virginia Division of Labor. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
The refurbishing of Vienna’s city wells No. 7 and 8, located along River Road at the end of 32nd Street, is expected to be completed in October. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Kathy Frum, left, presented the first President’s Point of Pride Award from West Virginia University at Parkersburg to nurse Alethea Bateman, right. (Photo Provided)
Bob and Melissa Herceg provide the music during Friday’s “Love You A Bunch” event at the Oakland mansion in Parkersburg. (Photo by Paul LaPann)
Summer florals were used to decorate the Oakland mansion for Friday’s southern-style brunch. (Photo Provided)
Residents of Market Street set up their wares for the annual Market Street Yard Sale on Friday. (Photo by Chad Adkins)
A lifeguard, left, watches as a child splashes into the exit path of the repaired tube slide Friday at the Parkersburg City Park splash pad. The facility reopened Friday afternoon following an inspection by the West Virginia Division of Labor. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
PARKERSBURG — The splash pad at City Park reopened Friday afternoon after passing a state inspection.
An inspector from the West Virginia Division of Labor gave the approval and the facility opened around 1:30 p.m., Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce said. The pad was soon in use by dozens of children.
“The kids love this,” said Parkersburg resident C.J. McClung, who brought three of his children to the facility Friday. “They adore the splash park. I hear about it every day.”
The $1.3 million splash pad had been closed since the afternoon of July 3, after a Division of Labor inspector issued a temporary cessation order citing safety concerns about the tube slide, where at least two children had been injured in the two weeks prior. A spokesman for the division initially said the splash pad was not properly registered, but that was incorrect.
The tube slide was closed and repaired after a 3-year-old boy sustained a gash to his head that required six staples. After another child was injured, the slide was closed again before the state’s order was issued, shutting down the entire splash pad.
Children play on the reopened splash pad at Parkersburg City Park Friday, following an inspection by the West Virginia Division of Labor. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
The new fix was performed Thursday and Friday by representatives of Minnesota-based Aquatix, which manufactured the equipment. It involved eliminating a ridge between the slide and the exit path, extending the exit path and filling it with water. Longer mats were also installed on each of the slides.
“We are not aware of any similar issues with this type of slide,” a company spokeswoman said Friday via email. “We have full confidence in our products.”
Parents with children at the splash pad Friday afternoon said they were aware of the issue that caused it to be closed but felt like it had been addressed.
“We’re happy it’s back open,” Parkersburg resident Jemetta Cornelison said as her 7-year-old son, Olmec, played on the pad. “We would come every day if I had the time.”
The City Park pool remained open while the splash pad was closed. Admission to it, the Southwood Park pool and the waterslide at Southwood was free while the splash pad was closed during that time.
Starting today, admission prices will return to normal. Joyce said it’s hoped that the Southwood pool will reopen today after being closed Thursday and Friday due to a crack in the tank that regulates chlorine content. Whether that happens depends on if new chlorine is delivered in time, he said.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.