BUCYRUS—The city is making a “splash” as improvements continue to be made at its swimming pool and park system.

A new splash pad is being installed at Aumiller Park next year, thanks to money being raised by the Bucyrus Kiwanis Club. But the water attraction is just one of many upgrades at Aumiller and other parks around town, according to city officials.

“Our Aumiller is quite the gem,” said Kelli Patterson, administrative assistant in the mayor’s office.

“All our parks are beautiful and so many people enjoy them and cherish them. People come from all over to have their family reunions there.”

Six new pickleball courts on the north side of Aumiller – the last three added in 2020 – are drawing pickleball lovers far and wide, and there’s still enough space to add three more courts, according to Bucyrus Service-Safety Director Jeff Wagner.

Aumiller Pool is also sporting 30 new lounge chairs this year, Wagner said, and the pool house bathrooms now feature new doors, automatic flush toilets, and hands-free sinks, he said.

The outside of the building has also received a fresh coat of paint.

New warmers, air fryers, and other equipment have been purchased for the concession stand at the pool, Patterson said, while the computer system used by employees there and at the front desk is on loan for the summer courtesy of J3 Point of Sale in Bucyrus.

At Lyons Park, the baseball dugouts have been spruced up and painted, and the Little League – which maintains both ballfields there – has also repaired the fencing and batting cages, she said.

This fall, plans are also to fix the drainage at the Little League Field of Dreams at Aumiller, Wagner said. “Those are the kinds of things we need to bring to light. We do everything we can to make it a great place to come and visit.”