West Grey is receiving a follow up report this week on a new splash pad coming to Durham.
Council will be looking at the water capacity for the project, after it had received previous approval in December to be located at Durham Town Hall. The municipality committed $100,000 for the project.
A report on water capacity was being reviewed at that time to determine which type of system best suits the site.
A report from Corporate and Community Initiatives Officer Kodey Hewlett and Public Works Manager Geoff Aiken says, “following review of the water and sewer capacity in the town of Durham, staff have determined that the water/sewer system could support a continuous flow system provided ongoing work/capital funding towards water and sewer system in Durham continues.”
The report adds, however, if work on municipal water and sewer services does not continue, splash pad features may have to be temporarily limited or deactivated.
“Full activation of the splash pad is contingent on bringing a new well online in the next two to three years,” says the report.
Durham 150, the group behind the project, brought this over $343,000 project to council after the 2022 homecoming celebrations in Durham, as the homecoming committee wanted to install a legacy project.
The committee approached council in March last year requesting backing for the project. At that time, council directed staff to work with the committee and report back.
The splash pad is set to be installed this year, and staff will determine the costs of operating the splash pad and include it in the 2025 budget.
“Based on preliminary water consumption estimates the impact may be an additional $6,000 to $10,000 to the operating budget,” says the report.
Council will consider this update during its meeting on Feb. 20 at 9 a.m.