Wallaceburg Splash Pad design unveiled (Photos)

The drawings for the Wallaceburg Splash Pad design have been unveiled and shovels are set to hit the ground soon at Colwell Park in Wallaceburg.

The committee held a sod turning ceremony on Wednesday night and a pre-construction meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday morning.

Chris Young, the chair of the Splash Pad committee, told the Sydenham Current that kids should be playing on the brand new splash pad by the end of the month.

“Contractors and everybody will be on board to take a look at the site and you will see digging probably within the next week or so,” Young said.

“We have to do locates obviously of course first and then the big shovels will hit the ground. Things will happen quick. The Splash Pad is scheduled to be done July 28.”

Jane McGee, supervisor of parks and recreation in Wallaceburg, said the pre-construction meeting is being held to ensure everyone is on the same page, that utilities are in place and that there are no issues getting in the way of construction.

“We will have Entegrus, PUC, Public Works, myself and the construction company as well as the excavator who has volunteered to donate his time,” McGee said.

McGee said barring any unforeseen circumstances, the job should be completed by July 28.

Design unveiled

Photos of the proposed design for the Wallaceburg Splash Pad were unveiled on Wednesday night.

“We have got a design and it looks awesome,” Young said.

“There is three different zones. There will be a toddler zone, a teen zone and a family zone all incorporated into the design. Of course kids are going to go where they want to go and that’s fine. It is barrier free and accessible to everybody. It is going to be wide open and spacious and lots of water spraying all over the place.”

Here are some photos of the design:

Here are some more details about the design:

– The total area is 2,869 square feet or 267 square metres

– The total spray area is 1,997 square feet or 186 square metres

– There will be 19 total spray amenities

– Three play zones: toddler bay, teen bay, family bay

– Two benches and two single post shade tables

“Families and kids of all ages, young and old, will have a blast,” Young said.

“We are really excited about it. The fun will really start when you start seeing it take place.”

Community, team, fundraising

While Young was thrilled to get to this next level with the project, he said there is still work to be done from a fundraising standpoint.

“We have still got a little ways to go, about $30,000 (of $200,000) to still raise, Young said.

“Donations are still coming in, which is great. The community has been awesome. Absolutely awesome. There is still people contacting us everyday. Things are happening.”

Young had nothing but praise for the Splash Pad committee as well.

“The team is everything,” he said.

“They came together really nice right at the start. Right from the beginning we have been together for the whole two years now. It just came together so nicely and everybody has worked so hard. Dug in and did what we needed to do. We knew if you had the dream and you put some energy into it that things will happen and it has. It has been wonderful. A wonderful experience I think for all of us as a group. We have enjoyed working together and made some new friends.”

Young said the group plans to take a break from fundraising once the splash pad is completed, and after all the bills are paid.

– Photo credit: Aaron Hall