Phase 1

• Inclusive Playground
• Recreation/Detention Pond
• AJAA Pedestrian Connection
• Aquatics Facility
• Multi-Use Fields
• Native Restoration Areas and Landscaping ​

For questions or concerns about the future Murphy Park, please fill out the contact form at the bottom of this page.

Did you miss our public input meeting?

In July, Washington Township Park hosted 2 public meetings about the Future Murphy Park. The Washington Township Trustee and Washington Township Park Director have created a recorded presentation from that meeting. Please click on the button below. This video has the most up to date information about the Future Murphy Park. We have also included a one page sheet on the taxes for each tax payer and the impact to the taxing entities in Avon If you have any questions please feel free to contact Lora Helmick, Park Director at lhelmick@avonfd.org.

Public Input Meeting Presentation

Tax Information

Aquatics Facility

Logistics

The Aquatics Facility will be open Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day weekend. If staffing will allow we will open for longer. Residents of Avon/Washington Township will receive a discounted rate for admission and membership. Rates will be comparable to those in the surrounding area. When rates have been approved by the Township Board, we will post them here. The pool deck has been designed so that in the winter months this facility will be used for our ice rink that is currently operated in the top of Washington Township Park.

Ammenities

• Slide Tower (With 2 slides)
• Activity Pool (With beach entry, open swim, and central basketball feature)
• Wave Pool 
• Central Play Feature ( 3 tiered and accessible by all abilities, spray play, seating ledge, and small slides)
• Cabanas
• Admission/Concessions Building
• ​Bath House

Potential Programming

• Swim Lessons 
• Water Aerobics 
• Water Walking Club
• Freaky Fridays – Free water relays & games
• Adult Swim
• Teen Tuesdays
• Glow Swim
• Flick and Float – Pool movies
• Adult Night – Concert and Swim
• Swim Concerts
• Corporate Rentals
• Private Rentals
• Daycare Days
• Open Swim
• Month-long Ironman
• Doggy Day – Last day of the swim season

The list continues to grow and we encourage any suggestions for programming. If you have a great program suggestion, please fill out the contact form below.

For questions or concerns about the future Murphy Park, please fill out the contact form at the bottom of this page.

All Inclusive Playground

A playground for children of all abilities and needs. This would be the first of it's kind in Hendricks County. 
Many specialists believe that several abilities used in your adult life can be first learned on the playground including;

• Self-esteem & Problem Solving
• Increase Self Control
• Enhanced Creativity and Imagination
• Relationships & Confidence
• Moving with Courage

The elements that are chosen for this playground will help with;

• Sensory Skills
• Motor Skills
• Strength
• Cognitive Skills
• Social Skills
• Emotional Skills  

Still not sure what an All Inclusive Playground means? Check out the links below to see a presentation from the Director explaining all of the inclusive features at Murphy Aquatic Park.
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Murphy Aquatic Park Inclusive Playground

For questions or concerns about the future Murphy Park, please fill out the contact form at the bottom of this page.

Frequently Asked  Questions

Q: What is the total cost of the project?
A: The total cost for Murphy Park will be 16 million dollars. We plan to use a bond to pay for this project. Most government entities use bonds to fund large community projects and these bonds are taxed to the community. The Township Board will be paying off our current park bond in 2022 which will lower the tax debt for the other taxing entities and tax payers. The Township uses a financial adviser who has informed us that the average home value ($250,000) with a 15 million dollar bond would pay a little over $1.45 a month which comes out to about $17.50 a year. Homes that are assessed for less will pay less and homes assessed for more will pay more. 
Q: What is included in Phase one?
A: Phase 1 will include an All Inclusive Playground, Recreation/Detention Pond, AJAA Pedestrian Connection, Aquatics Facility, Multi-Use Fields, and Native Restoration Areas and Landscaping.
Q: What is included in the Master Plan?
A: Phase 2 of the overall Master plan includes; playground improvements, shelter house/restroom at the playground, more park trails, pond recreation, park maintenance building, community center, and gymnasium.
Q: What is an All Inclusive Playground?
A: An All Inclusive Playground is made for children of all abilities and needs. Most playgrounds now a days are ADA compliant but, ADA focuses on more physical disabilities. This playground would help those with physical, sensory, processing, visual, hearing and emotional needs. The playground equipment will include a large man made berm with slides built into them, climbing hides for children who need a little break from the chaos, and a merry go round that is built into the ground for children to roll their wheelchair inside. Children learn life lessons on the playground that are used in everyday life. This playground creates a space for all children to play.
Q: Why would you open an amenity that can only be used for 3 months?
A: The Aquatics Facility will be open from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day weekend. If the summer weather continues we plan to stay open longer if staffing will allow.  The Aquatics Facility will take a little over a month to open and close at the beginning and end of the season. The facility has been designed with ample deck space so that in the winter months we will run our ice rink at this facility. We will use the restrooms and admissions and concessions building for the ice rink and other programming taking place on the Murphy Park grounds. In Phase 2 of the design we have planned to add on a Community Center and Gymnasium. The two buildings have been designed to connect with each other so that the concessions side can open up to the Community Center, allowing it to be used all year round. 
Q: You just opened a park in 2019 how can you afford to do this project?
A: In the past 8 years the Township has used their Rainy Day Fund to pay for larger capital projects in the Township. The Township used the rainy day fund to pay for the Fire Headquarters building, Pecar Park, The Fire Training Grounds, Station 141 remodel, and the Murphy Property. The Murphy Park project would come from a Bond.
Q: Will there be a discount for Avon residence?
A: Similar to the resident rate that we currently have for our Pavilion Center, all Washington Township residents will get a discount at the Aquatics Facility. Washington Township includes all Avon residents and portions of the surrounding towns including; Brownsburg, Danville, and Plainfield. This is similar to the Avon School Districts. If you pay property taxes to the Township then you are included in the future discount rate.
Q: What will the fees be?
A: The Washington Township Park staff has created a three year projected budget for the future Aquatics facility. Our goal is that the pool become self sustaining after year 3. We have looked at the pricing for our neighboring Aquatics facilities and will come up with a fee structure that is comparable to those facilities around us. We will make a final decision on pricing as we get closer to the completion of the project. The Washington Township Board will have the final say on all pricing.
Q: How will the COVID-19 Pandemic affect this project?
A: Washington Township is working closely with our financial to create a 5 year plan based on how taxes will be coming in, in the future. We have been talking to our engineers to see what other government entities are doing with their current construction projects. Our goal is to start this project in 2021 but, we will only do so if the Washington Township Board feels comfortable with our current state. Washington Township Parks is a member of the Indiana Park and Recreation Association that is made up of Park Professionals throughout the state. We have been attending several round tables and webinars to see how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting aquatic facilities throughout the state. We feel that it is important to learn from those who are currently opening their aquatics facilities and seeing what is working for them. We will be sure to have an emergency action plan and pandemic policy for the pool.
​Q: What will be done for road improvements on 625?
A: Right now Washington Township is working with HWC to create a traffic study for now and 5 years after the water park will be done. The park has been in conversations with the Town of Avon and Hendricks county and has agreed to pay a set fee based on the project cost to go towards future road improvements for 625. As part of the town ordinance there will be a dedicated right hand turn onto the property. Washington Township has in the plans to create a connection between Murphy Park and the AJAA ball fields. This will include flashing lights and a cross walk to and from each property. 
Q: What about all of the mature trees on the property?
A: Washington Township Park will be using most of the open land that is currently on the property. The border of the property provides tall mature trees that we plan to keep as part of the design. We will be preserving as much of the natural landscape as possible. There are two houses on the property that we plan to demolish this year. 
Q: Will there be increased noise on the property?
A:The pool will be open from 10 - 6:30pm. We may open early some days for swim lessons or sensory days. The pool can also be rented out in the evenings. The Murphy Aquatic Park is strategically positioned to reduce, and limit noise produced from activities and equipment. The sight provides a natural barrier with bluff and trees which will help alleviate most of the noise. The pool is located 20 feet below neighboring properties and more than 500 feet from the closest house. All pool equipment is housed within a  building that has built in sound proofing and elimination systems, this will reduce the noise produced by the machines.
Q: What about discrimination against the poor? What will you do to ensure everyone has access to the parks?
A: Washington Township strives to always provide affordable recreation opportunities. We do our best to audit all of our pricing to make sure that we are offering the best and most affordable price to the community. We have spent a lot of time visiting other aquatics facilities in the community and in Indiana. A lot of the aquatics facilities have shared there revenue and expense budgets with us. The Washington Township board will make the final decision on all pricing. Our goal is that this aquatic facility will eventually make enough money to be self-sustaining. This will free up other tax dollars to be used towards our free programming.
Q: I’m worried about the water supply. Will it be draining from my well water?
A: The pool will be hooked into the city water line. Once the pool is filled, we will treat the water and recirculate throughout the season.
Q: How will the water be disposed of? Will it need to be treated first?
A: The pool will be treated throughout the season and it will recirculate. Most of the water that will leave the pool will be from general use by the public. At the end of the pool season, the water will be drained. The water will be disposed of through the storm water drain.
Q: Do you plan on using any solar panels to supplement the fossil fuel usage that will be required to run electricity at the pool?
A: At this time we do not have any plans to use solar panels at the pool. However we are looking into the possibility of using solar panels at the admissions and concessions building. We want to make sure that we do our research and give the community the best possible facility.
Q: Will the lighting be focused well to cut back on light pollution?
A: The lighting we plan to use is called Dark Sky Compliant and will be energy efficient LED, directed to the ground and not out like some lighting.  
Q: Will the wildlife in the area be scared off by the humans and noise in the area?
A: We do not feel that the wildlife in the area will be affected by the new park. Most of the building will take place in the open areas of the property. We do plan to remove brush from the wooded areas to help the mature trees flourish. I can tell you that when we built Pecar Park, the wildlife was a concern to the neighbors. It's now been here for 2 years and we have seen an increase in the different wildlife that is still at Pecar. We are confident that the squirrels and raccoons in the area will love the new park.
Q: Will you have critter proof trash cans?
A: We have put a lot of thought into all of the amenities at Murphy Park. Trash cans are a big topic of discussion because they involve the everyday life of our maintenance crew. We look for trash cans that are heavy, sturdy, and have a heavy lid on top. These functions will help with critter's and vandalism. 

The above questions are questions that have been submitted to us through the contact form below and at our public input meetings. This list will be updated as questions come in.

Contact Us

Any question or concerns about the future Murphy Park can be sent using the contact form below. Anyone who fills out a contact form below will be added to the contact list for future public input meetings.