PAHOKEE — The City of Pahokee got a little relief from the heat this afternoon when Mayor Keith Babb and city commissioners had a rededication and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the city’s splash pad and pool at Commissioners Park. The splash pad had been closed for years and the pool needed some renovations, so the People of U.S. Sugar jumped in to help.

“Pahokee is a rural farming town with limited municipal resources, so it was a no-brainer for the people of U.S. Sugar to step in and with a little assistance, make a big difference in this community,” said Brannan Thomas, community relations director for U.S. Sugar.

The happy event took place after school so kids could attend and wash away their day, splashing around and having fun. Residents and city leaders were treated to hamburgers, hotdogs and some world-famous Pahokee O’s shaved ice.

Mayor Keith Babb said he’s grateful for the generosity of community partners like U.S. Sugar who know a little kindness goes a long way.

“The residents of our city are in great need, and it is heartwarming to know we have local businesses and residents in this community who step up when they are called upon to help,” said Babb. “I don’t know who’s happier today, the kids splashing in the water or me.”

Pahokee is named for a Seminole word meaning “grassy waters.” The city was incorporated in 1922 and is often referred to as Palm Beach County’s other coast due to its prime access to the eastern shores of Lake Okeechobee.