Campbell River’s newest attraction is nearly built and is expected to open this spring.
The pieces of Rotary’s much-anticipated splash park are standing, with only minor details yet to be completed.
“The work remaining is the installation of the perimeter walkway and the landscaping,” said Lynn Wark, parks project supervisor. “The landscaping will simply involve grass in the area that was disturbed during the construction process.”
Construction began in July, shortly after a ground breaking ceremony at the Sportsplex.
The splash park has a mini fire hydrant, a small archway, a hose element, and it boasts a black mega soaker – the first of its kind in B.C. The mega soaker, a bowl that fills with water and then tips over, is expected to be the main attraction.
The park sits just below the tennis courts, beside the basketball court and across from the playground in Willow Point Park behind the Sportsplex.
The final pieces of the splash park are expected to be complete in the next few months, though Wark said there are no firm dates for when construction on the walkway will get underway.
“We are waiting for the manufacturer to get the product to us,” Wark said. “As soon as it is received we can install as the ground has all been prepped and is ready to go.”
The grand opening is tentatively scheduled for this spring. Wark said the city is working with all the different groups who donated to the project to set an exact date, but said it could possibly be over the May long weekend.
The splash park is a joint community project between the Noon Hour and Daybreak Rotary Clubs, the Campbell River Professional Firefighters Association, Telus, and the city.
The two Rotary Clubs paid for the largest chunk of the project at $160,000 while the firefighters pitched in $20,000.
The city paid for $75,000 of the project costs through the parks parcel tax and will also fund annual operating costs of $30,000. Telus provided $123,200 through a campaign in which $100 was donated on behalf of each community member who signed up for Telus’ Optik TV last year.
The splash park was a three-year process. The project idea was first brought to city council three years ago and received approval in principle in 2010. The splash park was given final approval by council in November 2011.
“It’s so good to be able to have it done finally,” said Patricia Gagnon, past president of the Noon Hour Rotary Club at the July groundbreaking. “It’s been a long time of waiting.”