Rotary Club is looking at creating a new Splash Park beside Connaught School in North Battleford. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Youth recreation

City commits to participate in Rotary’s proposed Splash Park

May 18, 2023 | 5:00 PM

The City of North Battleford is giving its support to the Rotary Club of the Battlefords’ proposal to build a Splash Park, potentially beside Connaught Elementary School.

City administration recommended council authorize the City to partner with the Rotary Club of the Battlefords and proceed in the design, development and construction of a Splash Park in North Battleford.

Rotary requested a $100,000 contribution from the City, through in-kind service or financial support. The only request currently though, at this stage, is for city staff’s time to meet with the partners to confirm the location for the park.

Essentially, the city is just formally committing to participate in the project now.

Rotary previously said it will fund $200,000 of the cost of the project over a three-year period, through fundraising.

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City Clerk Stacey Hadley said in her submitted report when a formal plan is established, administration will seek council’s direction before proceeding to the next phase.

At this time, it is just a matter of confirming the location. City staff will work with Rotary Club and Living Sky School Division to determine an appropriate site for the Splash Park, and coordinate with Rotary to develop the plan further. Then, administration will come back to council with any future requests related to the park’s development.

Coun. Len Taylor said he appreciated the report the Rotary Club made to council previously and supported the idea, but wondered if the city would face any additional costs for this fiscal year related to the park’s development, and if the city would be able to take on the commitment to maintain the park into the future after its built.

“Once the capital is invested, the grass is cut, and the [splash pad] is brought in, we then have the annual cost of maintaining that park forever and ever. Are we in a position to do that?” he asked administration.

City Manager Randy Patrick, who is also president of the Rotary Club of the Battlefords, said there would not be any additional cost to the city this year.

He noted this year the conversation is focused on the plan.

Patrick added there is some cost to run the park and provide the water, as far as maintenance goes, but this would be a discussion that would come back to council in the future.

He noted the new splash park would be a city facility or a city asset when it is built.

City Director of Parks and Recreation Cheryl DeNeire said the city had previously identified Connaught and Riverview as two areas of the city that are under-serviced for recreation, so the Rotary project for Connaught does meet a need.

“Those are two areas that were identified for pretty much a splash park or a splash park/ playground,” she added. “So, it’s an area we will be looking at later on, regardless of this project.”

Mayor David Gillan mentioned this would be the first park the city would have on non-city land, as the park would be located on Living Sky School Division’s property, for the area proposed.

The mayor said he is looking forward to hearing more details about the project.

“I’m very supportive [of it],” he added.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow