The Optimist Club of Sydenham and District is looking to help fundraise the replacement and expansion of the splashpad at McCarroll Park in Meaford.
Meaford council will be receiving a report from Director of Community Services and Clerk Matt Smith on May 29. It recommends applying for a Trillium Capital Grant for the project, and to bring forward a fundraising agreement with the club.
The report says in October 2021, council adopted a McCarroll Park Design Concept, which included replacing and expanding the existing splashpad, which is beyond the end of its expected lifespan, as well as enhanced playground equipment, an art installation, and general landscaping.
The cost of the project in 2021 was just over $800,000. In spring of this year, however, staff were approached by the club who were interested in fundraising for a parks project, with staff suggesting the splashpad.
Mayor Ross Kentner says the splashpad is very important to the community.
“It is right on the waterfront in Meaford and it is a really important part of our tourism and gets a lot of use from locals,” says Kentner.
The report adds while staff recognize how the concept design for the park may be beyond the municipality’s means at this point, staff have begun working to develop an updated plan.
The 2023 Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) Capital grant is open and closes June 14. The max the grant is able to provide is $150,000 and is designed to help support projects which improve access to community spaces, facilities, activities and services, as well as improve and build community spaces.
The report says staff have been working on the possibility of including the splashpad replacement and expansion project in the 2024 budget, and planned to bring forward a report this summer to talk about the various options for funding.
It is estimated the total project will be around $340,000.
Kentner says he foresees other organizations coming to fundraise for this project.
“I think there are groups throughout the municipality that would join in. The important thing for us as council to do is to ensure that we are giving this a go ahead on the time frame this is required to acquire some of the grants that have already come in here,” says Kentner.
Council will be reviewing this report on May 29 at 1 p.m.