Saugeen Shores council has given approval in principle for a splash pad in Port Elgin.
The vote was 7-2 in favour with Councillor Don Matheson and Vice Deputy Mayor Diane Huber voting against.
Huber says the location is wrong, considering there is a natural splash pad just to the south, called Port Elgin Main Beach.
Splash pad committee spokesperson Amy Shute isn’t buying that, saying the argument about Lake Huron being a splash pad just doesn’t make sense.
Huber says she would rather see the pad located in a more residential setting and leave the Northshore Park in it’s natural setting.
She says if the splash pad was in a residential area, she believes more people with children would have more consistent access.
Shute says the committee looked at several alternative sites but the Northshore Park location stood out as having the most benefits.
She says the location’s use also aligns with the waterfront master plan that the town has been working on.
Shute says her group is pleased with council’s vote and that they will consider contributing $75,000 towards the capital cost.
That issue will come up during the 2017 capital budget discussions, expected this fall.
Total capital costs for the facility are estimated at just over $362,000.
All in, the splash pad fund raising committee is hoping to raise $570,000, which includes the capital cost.
Shute says so far the committee has pledges or commitments totalling $200,000.
The next fundraiser for the group is the 2nd annual Children’s Festival, July 9th in the downtown area of Port Elgin.
She says if all goes well, the new splash pad will officially open on July 1st, 2017, celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday.
