April 20. Construction is expected to get under way in earnest any day at the Splashville Park in Smithville. The $150,000 splash pad was conceived of and organized by the Lake Norman Kiwanis, which meets each Thursday for lunch at Brooklyn South.

ANERALLA

John Aneralla, who is leading the fundraising campaign for Kiwanis, says workers have staked out the pad and started work in the pump room. Aneralla, who is the mayor of Huntersville, said he is “still hoping” for a Memorial Day opening.

The Cornelius Town Board fronted the money for the splash pad; the Kiwanis are raising the money to pay the town back. So far, they’ve raised about $125,000, Aneralla said.

The 1,300-square-foot splash pad is next to the baseball fields at Smithville Park. It will be similar to the one at the center of Birkdale Village where children will be able to escape the summer heat while playing in various types of interactive water fountains.

Meanwhile, it looks like the new public beach at county-owned Ramsey Creek Park will be delayed because the reconfiguration of the intersection of Nantz Road and West Catawba won’t be done in time.