The hard work of the Friends of Ironton and the community has paid off. The Friends Park Sprayground will celebrate a grand opening today at 1 p.m. BC Tool and Party Rental has donated two inflatables for the children to play on at the dedication ceremony.

The Sprayground is located in the Friends Park at Second Street, Depot Square, and has been in the planning stages since 2009. It is a free splash park that is open to the public.

Viviane Khounlavong-Vallance is a Friend of Ironton and said delays on the opening have been because of construction and the need for more donations.

“It’s been a little bit of both,” she said. “The first official design of the park was changed to incorporate a different type of water filtration system. Then of course with construction, the weather takes a toll on you.”

As for donations, the project is still in need of some funding.

“We’re still looking for donations,” Khounlavong-Vallance said. “We’re always looking for opportunities to fund the project.”

This will be a preview of what is to come, as there are still a few things left to do before the final completion in the spring.

“The Sprayground itself, the basic skeleton, is completed, but we’re still working on getting the other aspects of the program done,” Khounlavong-Vallance said. Some of the additions not finished yet include benches and an area for concessions.

The Sprayground will be open on a timer and a sensor system, in an effort to use less energy and water. The hours this fall will vary as the autumn days get shorter.

There are a few guidelines to follow when splashing at the Sprayground. Pets are not allowed. The other main rule to follow is just to stay safe.

“We’d like for everybody to enjoy themselves and the Sprayground, but just be careful,” Khounlavong-Vallance said.

The Friends of Ironton aren’t going to be finished when the Sprayground is completed, though.

“Of course, the Sprayground is just a smaller portion of the Friends Park,” she said. “This is a small part of the bigger picture. It’s ongoing and we will see a lot of changes in the next few years.”