FORT FRANCES — Over the Labour Day weekend, families got to enjoy a fantastic new addition to Legion Park just in time for the hottest days of the summer.
To test out the newly installed spray park equipment, council turned on the water to help the community stay cool.
“It was perfect timing because we had that spate of very hot weather and there was a long weekend and the actual spray pad itself, which is just one component of the whole spray park was done. So, it seemed like an optimal time to try it out and let the community enjoy it in the waning days of summer,” said Fort Frances Mayor Andrew Hallikas.
Hallikas said he made a point to go down to Legion Park every day the stray pad was open to listen to feedback from the community.
“There was a real kind of festive atmosphere there. Like lots of young families with kids and the kids were having a really good time and then the parents were sitting around and visiting and chatting and the weather was beautiful,” Hallikas said.
He credited the Legion Park spray pad to the success of the Make a Big Splash committee for raising funds and the community at large for coming together to make the new recreational facility a possibility.
"Our community comes together generously when there's a need. Like in the past, we've raised a phenomenal amount of money to build the library, our community auditorium, our ice surfacing, and equipment for the hospital. It just seems when there's a need the community comes together and gives very, very vigorously,” the mayor said.
After the long weekend, the spray pad was turned off to begin working on the next steps to the Legion Park rehabilitation project including building a new play structure, a sliding hill, paving sidewalks and parking lot, and installing the new self-cleaning washroom.
“There was a lot of infrastructure work, you know, putting in water lines, electrical conduits, road work, and paving and so on. The infrastructure had to be done before you can kind of put in all of the other features,” said Hallikas.
Interim CAO Travis Rob explained the playground structure is 75 per cent complete and the younger kids' structure will be assembled soon.
Rob claims that the reason for the immediate closure of the stray pad was to ensure “there was no opportunity for kids and construction to conflict.”
If the weather permits, there is still a possibility that the pad will reopen before the fall; however, is expected to have everything operational by the spring of 2024.
