After months of tireless fundraising, the Wallaceburg Splash Pad committee is hoping Chatham-Kent council will help push them over the final hump.
Chatham-Kent staff is recommending an interest free loan in the amount of $50,000 be given to the group for the development of a splash pad at Colwell Park in Wallaceburg.
Staff is recommending that the loan be repaid over a five-year period at the rate of $10,000 per year.
“The Wallaceburg ‘Let’s Make a Splash’ Pad Committee is prepared to pay the capital costs required to design, develop and build the splash pad,” said Jane McGee, supervisor of recreation facilities in Wallaceburg, in a report.
“The committee has already raised $120,000 through community fund raising initiatives and pledged funds. For the remaining $50,000, the committee is requesting an interest-free loan from the Municipality.”
McGee added: “The committee is very close to their target and do not wish to wait for another summer
before the residents of the community can enjoy the benefits of the splash pad. They would like to have the Splash Pad Request for Proposal advertised and awarded soon, so the splash pad can be built and operational by July 1, 2017.
McGee said to date, the committee has raised funds through; bake sales, trivia nights, barbecues, Ford Drive for a Cause, Chatham-Kent Community Partnership Funds and through generous community donations.
McGee said the Splash Pad group have plans in place to raise the $50,000:
At at an August 2015 council meeting, the group was granted permission to fundraise and construct a splash pad on the municipal property along Running Creek Drive.
Once all funds are in place and it is built, it will be turned over to the Municipality to take ownership and pay the utilities and lifecycle cost, a staff report says.
Council is set to vote on the recommendation at the combined regular and planning meeting on Monday, April 24 at the Civic Centre in Chatham.
The meeting gets underway at 6 p.m.
