Prescott’s Committee of the Whole has discussed different locations for a splash pad and look to get the public’s opinion.
On February fifth the Splash Pad Fundraising Committee held a meeting to discuss different sites for the Prescott splash pad.
Mayor Brett Todd says he’s always thought Centennial Park would be the location as it has been mentioned since his first term in Council. Todd says as it was assumed for Centennial he is surprised that they are looking at new locations.
“I believe Centennial Park is the natural location. It’s our summer hub of activity. It’s the best place in town for families and to me it’s the only natural location for a splash pad.”
Director of Public Works & Infrastructure Dan Beattie says other locations they have looked into are Fairway Park, behind Town Hall and the Kriska soccer field. Beattie says servicing costs to the Fairway Park splash pad would cost around $45,800. The Town Hall location would cost approximately $64,600, Kriska would cost over $500,000 and Centennial Park would be over $130,000.
Beattie adds Fairway Park was the cheapest only because the town would not have to cut or reinstate any asphalt to get any services like water sewer and storm to the site. He believes the Kriska location would not be an option because there is no water or sewer and would cost around half a million dollars. He says the Centennial Park also includes the playground base replacement. If the town decided not to replace it then it would be around $80,000 for Centennial Park.
Mayor Todd discussed the different locations and noted the lowest estimated one, Fairway Park, was not a good choice in his opinion.
“This is a water facility. It’s key to have that on the water. Moving it back to Fairway’s, it’s always been quite swampy back there. The train tracks are feet away, it’s very buggy back there as well. I know it well from spending time back there as a kid and to me it just doesn’t fit the criteria.”
From those estimates, the Committee narrowed it down to Fairway Park, Town Hall and Centennial Park. Councillor Lee McConnell brought up Howe Terrace as a location he thought should be considered. McConnell says it’s not just a splash pad it’s the possibility of a recreational facility. He adds there would be an opportunity to add a couple of ball fields.
“The washrooms would do double duty for the ball fields and the splash pad. Splash pad is adjacent to Churchill Road in the North end, where there’s a lot of kids (and it would be) easily accessible.”
McConnell adds they will look into the costing for his location idea.
Staff will be bringing back the costing for all four sites at the next committee meeting on March 18th. The Committee of the Whole will also approve questions for the public survey about splash pad locations that evening.
