A local resident is concerned that money and water is being wasted at Jaycee Park in Wallaceburg.
Rebecca French-Byrne told the Sydenham Current she noticed the “splash pad and turtle” at the park are constantly running water until 8 p.m. daily.
“Even when it’s raining,” she said. “This seems like such a waste of water and money.”
Jane McGee, supervisor of recreation facilities in Wallaceburg, said the Municipality doesn’t have a mechanism to activate the pad for just when users are present
“We just have a timer, hence the setting from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily,” she said.
The pad was upgraded a couple of years ago with two additional spray features to complement the existing turtle, McGee said.
This was “through fundraising efforts by interested community members. The funds were graciously received and used to enhance the spray/play opportunities however elaborate controls were not possible with the donated funds,” McGee said. “The single turtle had a push button activation but when the added features were installed, this was no longer an option.”
McGee added: “We tried to put a rain gauge on the system however because the controls are similar to an irrigation system the rain gauge would stop the system. Not while it was raining, but perhaps the next day as the controller sensed we had received enough rain and watering was not necessary. Very similar to a lawn sprinkling system.”
About $8,500 was provided by the Wallaceburg Kinsmen Club, the Kent and Essex Mutual Insurance Company, as well as the municipality for the splash pad back in 2013.
