A spray park should be built in Wetaskiwin by the end of the summer of 2025, says a committee that oversees the project.
Katrina Wold, a Co-Chair of the committee for the park, told Pipestone Flyer that the project is weather-dependent, but they hope to start construction in the spring and have it ready to use in the summer.
The budget for the project is expected to be around $1.3 million, which the committee hopes to allocate through public donations.
“This is a community-led project. We are volunteering our time to bring a highly-needed recreation area to the community. We will be funding this project through grants, fundraisers, in-kind donations, and capital donations — which will be displayed on a donor recognition board at the spray park,” Wold said.
Wold added that depending on how many donations they receive, the project will include a spray park, inclusive playground, accessible fitness equipment, picnic tables, benches, shelters, and accessible pathways.
She said that the “priority is building a spray park on a recirculating system.”
Wetaskiwin City Council approved the project during their meetings in August and Oct. of last year.
According to Wold, Wetaskiwin is one of the only cities in Alberta with a population under 13,000 that lacks a spray park.
She also explained that Wetaskiwin is currently the fourth poorest school district and also has the fourth highest single-parent rate province-wide, creating an urgent need for free access to recreation and play within the community.
“This project will be the first truly barrier-free and inclusive recreation area in Wetaskiwin, providing new and exciting opportunities for so many of our community members that currently do not have an accessible recreation option,” Wold said.
The park would also help the city prosper economically, as families in Wetaskiwin often travel to other places for such entertainment.
“Right now, families have to travel to other communities to visit a spray park and more accessible playgrounds,” Wold noted.
”Bringing not only our community members back, but surrounding visitors to Wetaskiwin, creates a bright and appealing community for new families, which in turn will create positive economic impacts.”