Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake paid a visit to Barriere last Friday to present a cheque for $40,000 on behalf of the province toward the cost of the splash park project in Barriere.
The water park project has been designed to celebrate Barriere’s heritage and include local First Nations themes, providing all-ages family recreation in the summer months in Fadear Park.
“I am delighted that this spray park will be accessible to people of all ranges of mobility,” Lake said. “A family-centred project such as this gives Barriere residents a place to have fun together, and will also be an inviting attraction for tourists.”
District of Barriere Mayor Virginia Smith said, “On behalf of the District of Barriere, I would like to extend our thanks to Minister Lake for obtaining $40,000 of provincial funding for the Barriere splash pad.
“The project is called ‘Splash in the Past into the Future’ and will highlight our heritage as well as provide a much-needed opportunity to cool off in the centre of town during our hot summer days. The splash pad will be for all ages, it will be handicap accessible and it will further enhance the amenities already located in Fadear Park.”
In addition to local fundraising efforts which total just over $20,000 (thanks to pie sales, bake sales and dedicated volunteers), the Lower North Thompson Community Forest Society has voted to contribute $150,000 toward the project.
“Combined with the generosity of the Lower North Thompson Community Forest Society and the fundraising efforts of the community at large, we can now move forward with a grant application that requires matching funds – something we could not have done without Minister Lake’s efforts to procure today’s contribution from the province,” Smith said.
Plans for the park show it having a recirculated, treated water system with timed, motion-sensor operation. If funding is in place, proponents of the project say construction is expected to begin in spring 2016 and be completed by next summer.
Splash park committee chair, Lindsay Arcand, says they are keeping their fingers crossed that this third try to acquire a large grant to fund the project will be successful.