As cold temperatures limit the ability of Thompson kids to have outdoor fun, the Rotary Park Development Association is pushing forward with plans to give them another option for summer play by adding a splash pad to Rotary Park.
"We are hoping you will consider us for some funding when you're planning your 2011 budget," development association volunteer Jennifer Dyke told city council Jan. 13. "With this project being a lot bigger than our phase one, it would be nice to have a little help." Dyke was joined by Janet Laybolt and Anna Nelson in presenting on behalf of the group.
Phase one of the Rotary Park project, which was completed last summer, saw the installation of a $75,000 play structure, horseshoe pits, and picnic tables in a previously little-used bit of green space in the Deerwood area.
Phase two, which is the splash pad, has a much higher price tag - potentially as much as $450,000 - but the Rotary Park Development Association is nonetheless hoping to have funding in place in time to begin construction and installation by February 2012, which would allow the pad to be open that summer. The pad would be big enough to hold up to 190 kids at one time.
The biggest decision the group has to make about the splash pad is what sort of water system they will use - recirculation and potable systems are both on the table.
"We've been in contact with Health Canada, and they are recommending the potable system," said Dyke. "We've talked to the City of Winnipeg, they have both systems. With the recirc system, you need to have a hired staff to maintain it, it also has to be drained every day, and every two weeks the tank needs to be scrubbed. Health Canada is saying it's very hard to keep the chlorine levels in there and a lot of bacteria can grow, and that's why they are recommending the potable system."
Using fresh potable water would peg that project at a cost of $330,000, while the recirculation system costs an extra $120,000 on top of that figure. "Grants are coming up in February," explained Dyke, who noted that evidence of working with the city would make it easier to get funding. "There's a couple we'd like to apply for, but before we can apply for them, we'd like to know which way we're headed."
The group also asked for further city involvement in the form of a city representative joining the organization. Mayor Tim Johnston suggested that the city might be able to provide two representatives - one from council, to ensure efficient communication between the group and council, and one from the city's department of recreation, parks and culture to help with some of the technical details of planning and running the park.
"That park has grown well beyond the Deerwood area, it has visitors from all over the community that participate there," noted Johnston. "I think that's a real achievement. I've had the chance to visit the park on a number of occasions, and it truly is impressive. What you've been able to do with the hard work and dedication of volunteers is really something to be commended." Johnston also noted that the city's recently-released Master Parks Plan suggests building multiple splash pads to replace the existing wading pools around the city.
Dyke noted that one of the biggest advantages of splash pads over wading pools is that safety is much less of a concern. "There's no standing water, so you have no chance of drowning," she said. "It doesn't need to have a lifeguard." She added that a worker would need to check the pad every morning for debris to ensure it remained safe for kids.
The group had been hoping to land funding through the Aviva Community Fund, which is a competition designed to fund community-building projects across Canada. Despite many Thompsonites dutifully voting only for the splash pad every day, it was not one of the four Manitoban projects to advance to the semi-finals.
