RATHDRUM - Finally.

After seven years in the making, the city of Rathdrum opened the newly developed Majestic Park on Saturday, transforming what used to be 11 acres of grassy field into a playland with ball parks, disc golf, monkey bars and splash pad.

Especially, the splash pad.

"It's really cool," said 8-year-old Mitchell Zimmerman, soaked to the bone from the water features, his favorite feature of the 11-acre park, during its ribbon cutting ceremony Saturday. He said he'll come at least "twice a week."

The park was identified as a need in the city's 2006 comprehensive plan. The year before, the city established impact fees to help pay for projects like the park. With the help from state grants, city coffers and community donations, the roughly $1.2 million park is mostly complete.

"This is such a beautiful park, we hope you all enjoy it," said Brett Boyer, city administrator, before the ceremonial ribbon cutting. These are your funds, as citizens. We spent your money. We hope we spent it wisely."

The third phase of the project, which will include tennis and basketball courts, is planned a few years down the road. The first two phases are pretty much wrapped up, save some loose ends. But with two softball fields, playground equipment and the like, the park east of Meyer Road on the Rathdrum Prairie is ready for old-fashioned wear and tear.

"I think it's great to have something like this out here. I wish they had it sooner, but it will be here next year," said Jermaine Yeldon, who lives near the park, as he watched his daughter play in the splash pad. "I think my daughter will be asking me every single day to come here."

The ribbon cutting consisted of a long paper banner, welcoming the new park, that a pack of kids ran through after a countdown into the splash pad - the way some high school football teams run onto the field.

Before that, officials spoke about the project and thanked those involved.

"So, what do you think?" Mayor Vic Holmes called out to the more than 200 who attended. Some kids started playing before the speeches were wrapped up, and after the grand opening lunch was grilled up.

"We've kind of been watching, waiting for it," said Tony Knutson, who visited from Post Falls with his son, Nate. "This is a little bit better than I expected."

It's the city's first park since 1984.

"It's been a missing component for a long time," added Debbie Waddell, a fifth-generation Rathdrum resident. "I remember when it was a grassy field."

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