By Canada Day next year, a splash park could be up and running in Olds, if organizers have their way.
That's the fervent hope of Olds Splash Park Association (OSPA) President Brien McDonald. He made that statement during a presentation at the Olds Royal Canadian Legion Hall Thursday night.
A splash park is a kind of water park, primarily designed for children. It features colourful apparatuses that spray water in various ways. Some even have a big bucket that continually fills up with water and dumps it on participants.
A final decision hasn't been made on the location for the park, but the OSPA is leaning strongly toward locating it in Centennial Park, and the town is open to that idea.
McDonald projects the total cost of that project at about $500,000. The association is hoping the town and Mountain View County will each support the project, not only verbally, but financially, leaving the OSPA having to raise $300,000. Annual operating costs are projected to be in the $40,000 range.
The OSPA plans to meet with town and county officials shortly to make its pitch. If all goes well, McDonald is hopeful a Request For Proposals (RFP) can be sent out by Dec. 5, the construction contract awarded Feb. 9, and construction beginning (weather permitting) March 16.
A big step toward the OSPA's fundraising goal occurred Thursday night when Hildebrand Motors general sales manger Keith Klinck presented McDonald with a cheque for $10,000.
It was announced that several businesses in the town or county have offered to provide various aspects of construction as gifts in kind.
OSPA representatives say there are several companies throughout Alberta that specialize in building splash parks. The OSPA has contacted them about their idea and some have already indicated interest in bidding for the work.
Efforts have been made to create a splash park in Olds before – as recently as 2009. McDonald is hopeful this time it'll happen because they're building on those efforts as well as working to become a legal entity and obtain charitable organization status.
McDonald is excited about the entertainment the park can provide for kids. He's confident it will be a strong draw within and outside Olds.
“The way I opened the presentation, it sums it all up: if you've ever sprayed somebody with a hose or shot a water gun or dumped a bucket of water on somebody's head, that's a splash park,” McDonald said during an interview with the Albertan. “It's a 21st century way of having a water fight. We've all had 'em.”
