Spray park could be in place by 2015
By Shara JJ Cooper
Lynne Burch made a presentation to Grand Forks’ city council at their committee of the whole meeting Feb. 11 on behalf of the Grand Forks Rotary Club. The presentation was made to garner support for a much anticipated children’s spray park within city limits.
Burch and other members of the Rotary Club travelled to various communities around BC to explore their spray parks and talk to other Rotary Clubs that had played a role in making the spray park happen.
The club decided to take on the project, even though it is the biggest project Grand Forks’ local club has ever taken on.
Three spray parks were presented to the council, the cheapest estimated to cost $175,000 and the most expensive is estimated to cost $300,000. The biggest spray park would take up $2,048 sq. ft.
Burch made the argument that this will provide a barrier-free place for children to play. Children can easily play at the spray park, regardless of their financial situation and any physical disabilities.
It is also being designed to conserve water because the grey water will be collected and reused around the city for jobs like watering flower beds or flushing the lift station in City Park.
Money will be an issue, even if the smallest park concept was adopted.
“Funding for the project is a major undertaking for our small Rotary club,” said Burch. “The club cannot sell enough kettle corn to raise $300,000 – although we will try.”
One major fundraiser that the club is planning is a lobster dinner, which will be held after Labour Day in the fall. Burch said they are hoping that will raise $7,000.
The Rotary is planning to apply for grants and try to get funding from larger organizations like the Vancouver Foundations. They are also hoping that the City will donate up to $50,000. The Rotary Club is not a registered charity and will need the City to help make applications.
In their regular council meeting later that day, city council approved the third and largest proposed spray park, which has an estimated value of $300,000. They agreed they would send letters of support as needed and would look into potential funding, possibly from their slag pile reserve.
The Rotary is hoping they can get funding in place so that the spray park can be built in the fall of 2015.
