CORNWALL, Ontario – The promised splashpad at Riverdale Park opened to cheers from a crowd of grateful kids on a sweltering hot day on Friday, Aug. 5.
When the issue of the splashpad was raised at City Council in February, then CAO Norm Levac raised the possibility of it not being completed by the end of summer 2016, however, Grant Marion Construction was able to completed the project while there was still plenty of hot weather left in the year.
“It was all thanks to a lot of co-operation with the City,” said Mathieu Lefevbre of Grant Marion Construction, when asked how the project was completed so quickly. “The City was all on board from the get-go.”
Construction on the splashpad began at the end of May and was completed two months later.
“City Council was keen on getting it installed as soon as possible so that families could make use of it this year,” said Richard Bourdeau, Supervisor of Facilities/Operations. “We worked hard to accelerate the tendering process in order to get the splashpad operational sooner. The original completion date was mid-August so we are pleased to have been able to turn the water on a bit sooner.”
Not on hand for the opening of the splashpad was Councillor Justin Towndale, but Mayor Leslie O’Shaughnessy was sure to credit Towndale for his part in seeing this project come to fruition.
“It was actually Justin who brought up the fact in council that we had promised a splashpad for this neighbourhood,” the Mayor said.
The Mayor said that splashpads like this one are an important community investment.
“This is an important investment that adds to the quality of life that our residents enjoy,” said Mayor Leslie O’Shaughnessy. “It is sure to be well-used by residents and I’m excited that families will be able to make use of it this summer.”
The splashpad has a variety of water features and on-site changing rooms.
The splashpad at Riverdale Park will be in operation daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
