Owen Sound City Hall. (Photo by Claire McCormack. July 2024)
A community organization’s plan to construct a new splash pad in Owen Sound’s east end may not come to fruition.
Owen Sound councillor Marion Koepke questioned city staff during Monday’s council meeting about the status of a potential east side splash pad project the Scenic City Order of Good Cheer has been fundraising for.
“I’ve heard recently from members of the Scenic City Order of Good Cheer that the city is not willing to proceed with previous plans for a splash pad on the east side of the harbour. Members have worked hard to raise over $300,000 towards this project, and are very disappointed at the outcome,” Koepke says. “Especially since city staff were excited about the project in the beginning, and various testing at the cost of the organization has already taken place on the proposed property location.”
Two years ago, the Scenic City Order of Good Cheer started raising money in hopes of building a new splash pad near the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre. The organization’s president Bill Jackson says the site they are hoping to build on is in the area of the backlot of the Bayshore, near the washrooms and boat launch.
But he says city staff recently indicated there isn’t an interest in another splash pad, and instead wants the Scenic City Order of Good Cheer to invest its money in Kelso Beach at Nawash Park.
Owen Sound’s Director of Community Services Pam Coulter told councillors Monday she and the city manager have been looking at whether the city needs a second splash pad.
“You’ll recall in much of our capital asset planning we’re trying to invest in existing infrastructure as opposed to expanding our footprint,” Coulter says. “When there’s a gift of a new asset, it comes with long-term operating and then eventual capital replacement costs.”
Coulter says the Scenic City Order of Good Cheer is considering whether or not it will instead put its dollars towards playground replacement at Kelso Beach, and refurbishing the existing splash pad there.
“It’s hard to believe that splash pad was opened in 2012 and is already now over 13 years old,” Coulter says.
Jackson says people donated to a new splash pad, and if they’re not going to get one “maybe” the Order of Good Cheer will invest in Kelso Beach at Nawash Park.
No decisions have been made yet in committee or council. A report will be coming to the community services committee meeting on Oct. 16.