NORTH TOWNSHIP | Experts hired by the township have put a $1 million price tag on repairs needed at Wicker Park's splash pad/ice rink.

The township last summer filed suit against seven contractors connected to the recreation project, most recently adding to the list of defendants the bond company responsible for insuring the quality of the work.

Originally funded in part by a $200,000 grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the cost mushroomed to $1.3 million when former North Township Trustee Greg Cvitkovich added a refrigeration system to the splash pad so it could double as an ice rink.

The township has paid 90 percent of the construction costs beyond those covered by the grant.

"We are withholding the last 10 percent until the completion of the project," North Township Trustee Frank Mrvan said Tuesday.

According to the lawsuit, the township has not yet officially accepted the project from the contractors. The lawsuit seeks compensation of the township's costs, which include the repairs.

"Because of the malfunctioning and the early deterioration of the pad, we are aggressively going after the bond company to repair what is necessary," Mrvan said. "It's like any home improvement project gone bad."

Construction began in May 2003 but was repeatedly plagued by weather and operational problems. The splash pad did not debut until June 2005. That November, Mrvan pulled the plug on the ice rink's start-up to avoid creating further problems.

"We still have the same issues," Mrvan told the township board last week.

Mrvan said the splash pad is functioning and not endangering children, but pipes continue to leak. And the concrete continues to crack and bubble.

Township attorney David Gladish said the pad also has ongoing drainage issues. Experts predicted the deficiencies will only get worse as time passes, leading to the probable replacement of the entire pad and the pipes leading to the pad, he said.