Splash pad initiative possible in Wallaceburg

A Wallaceburg man thinks getting a splash pad in town is a real possibility and he is willing to spearhead an initiative to make it happen.

Chris Young is set to meet with Chatham-Kent council representatives and staff today (Wednesday, July 8) to discuss some possibilities and to learn what has been attempted in the past.

“There have been a couple of attempts in the past that started and dissolved for whatever reason… it wasn’t able to be brought home. So I am going to try to get some background information to understand exactly what the obstacles were, where the hurdles were and just learn from that experience and apply it to a new committee on a go forward basis.”

Young was vocal on social media in the past couple of weeks about a story and subsequent poll about the pad and turle at Jaycee Park in Wallaceburg.

Young, who has been heavily involved with Wallaceburg Minor Hockey over the years, told the Sydenham Current that Wallaceburg deserves a brand new splash pad for the local youth.

“We can’t sit back and wait anymore for people to do something. If we are not willing to do it ourselves, good things don’t always come to those who wait forever. We have to put a little effort into it,” he said.

“I’ve offered to help. The most important this is that anyone that wants to help or be a part of it, we have to all agree that first and foremost, there will be a splash pad in Wallaceburg when we are done, and that it’s for the whole community. We are doing this for Wallaceburg, not for individuals or anything like that.”

Young said he believes this project will take a lot of work, but is very realistic.

“We can’t expect to get it all done in a couple months but we can’t let it drag out forever as well. We have to strike while the iron is hot,” Young said.

“A few people have stepped forward and have said they are willing to be part of an initiative and I think we can do it. There is no reason why we can’t if everyone agrees that Wallaceburg is going to have one. We will go through the due processes and figure out where that will be. The less money we have to spend on infrastructure or developing property… that’s just lost money toward the project of the splash pad. If we can put .95 to every $1 to the actual splash pad we could have something pretty impressive at the end of the day. Everyone will take some pride in it and hopefully not just the kids but the adults and everyone will have access to it and it will be something nice for the community.”

Young said there have been some excellent examples, both in Port Lambton and Dresden, where community projects have been extremely successful.

“Port Lambton, with Brander Park, that happened fairly quickly. Even Dresden with their sports field project, who knew. I talked to a number of the people that were involved in that and the community wanted it, needed it, and everyone grabbed a hold and away it went,” he said.

“Thamesville is working on a splash pad. Blenhiem just completed a beautiful project over there. I think everything has a scope and as long as we don’t start adding to it, if we says lets just get a splash pad, stick with the splash pad and get that in, that the peripheral stuff around it will happen.”

Young said there has been about a half a dozen other people that have contacted him, willing to form a committee.

“More hands make less work but at the same time we don’t want it to discourage anyone to say they are interested in helping. All volunteers will be gratefully accepted. We need to keep the committee structure small. We don’t want it to be too big because than it becomes unwieldy and perhaps that was maybe some of the issues before, I don’t know. I want just a good cross section of people from town and area that are interested and have a desire to see this happen.”

Following his meeting with municipal officials, Young said he plans on contacting the people that expressed interest in helping to arrange a meeting.

“It’s going to happen as far as I’m concerned. I want to see it happen and I think there is a lot of people that have expressed their opinion. Its been too long. We need to pull together and make it happen for Wallaceburg. Wallaceburg is a great town and whenever there is something like this, the community will support it I’m sure. We won’t obviously take anything for granted and any contribution, big, small, any will be welcome.”

Watch for more on this story.