Updated: Downtown Waterfront Advisory Committee member Gary Gardiner says the group did not recommend the splash pad go behind the museum.
The Downtown Waterfront Advisory Committee itself did not recommend a site and Gardiner tells BayToday, "This is a staff presented a skewed version of what they would like. I will present to council tomorrow (Tuesday) to set the record straight.,"
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Original story:
It looks like North Bay is finally getting its much-anticipated splash pad next year.
A staff report being presented to city council tomorrow night, (since taken off the website) recommends it go behind the Discovery North Bay Museum.
The Downtown Waterfront Advisory Committee itself did not recommend a site and Chair Gary Gardiner tells BayToday, "This is a staff presented a skewed version of what they would like. I will present to council tomorrow (Tuesday) to set the record straight.,"
The splash pad will be built in partnership with the local Rotary Clubs.
The Committee says that the facility has the potential to encourage activity, bring families downtown, and create a central draw in the waterfront.
The details of the proposal are:
- Facility Size: approx. 6,600 sq.ft.;
- Facility Elements: three zones – toddlers, family area, older children’s area;
- Facility Water Supply: municipal system;
- Facility Wastewater: municipal sanitary sewer system.
The Rotary Clubs have identified a total budget $650,000, of which:
- $50,000 is designated for site preparation costs,
- $100,000 is allocated for a contribution to future washroom/change room facilities and
- $70,000 is budgeted for shelters and landscaping associated with the splash pad facility.
The operating costs are based on the following assumptions:
- The splash pad will be open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from June 1st to September 1st.
- Existing Parks staff will provide the daily maintenance that would include the minimum daily inspection and cleaning requirements.
- The water consumption has been calculated based on the proposed water features and the size of the water supply line. Water consumption will be reduced by adjusting the maximum flow and sequencing the water features so only 70% are activated at one time. An industry assumption is that on average a splash pad is on for 50% of the operating time.
- In the first year operating costs (base year 2018) would be $47,000 for the water and $5,000 for maintenance and parts. This would be additive to the Parks budget beginning in the 2019 operating year.
- The City has also included $52,500 in the 2018 Capital Budget to fund the installation of utilities and other potential infrastructure requirements to service the proposed site.
Some members of the Committee suggested alternative locations closer to the waterfront (Marathon Beach) for the splash pad to allow for the congregation of uses and to take advantage of existing facilities located at Marathon Beach.
But the museum site won out primarily because:
- Direct access to Parking and serviced by public transit
- Buffered from the lakeshore winds and blowing sand
- Perceived better safety and access
- Lower Maintenance costs and optimum life expectancy
- Access to facility is accessible by virtue of it being in a Central Location – adjacent to Downtown, Main Street, Seniors, Downtown Residents
