New splash park approved for Marwayne

Marwayne residents are growing excited as plans for a splash park were approved in the village this week.

Local non-profit, Friends of Marwayne Society, will be covering the build cost while the village has agreed to donate the land and cover future maintenance costs.

“Honestly, the idea came out of a hot summer day and my children wanting to run through the sprinkler,” said Heather Delaney, founder of the Friends of Marwayne Society.

“The splash parks in Vermilion and Lloydminster have always been the go-to spot for locals, and I thought to myself, ‘Why not one in Marwayne?’ We may have a smaller population, but a great deal of that population are children and I think having something for families and children to do in the summer will keep them here as opposed to travelling to other communities.

“And hopefully in turn, it will bring outlying communities here as well.”

The village put out an online survey to see what the public interest was, and were pleased with the response.

Results showed that residents were 91 per cent in favour of the project, but were split 50/50 on whether they’d accept an increase in property taxes to offset maintenance costs.

Mayor Cheryle Eikeland said she was in support but did not want to see taxes go up as a result.

“Over a long time $15,000 for maintenance does add up, but if were a bit more frugal, we would just have to move some money around,” said CAO, Shannon Harrower.

“Right now based on contingencies and savings we have cut a lot of costs that we can move over to this project.”

Based on council’s decision, the community will get the splash park but their property tax will not be affected.

The location for the splash park has been designated behind the senior’s centre near the soccer field and outdoor rink.

Delaney said all the water features for the splash park would be Canadian built, and the project would be completed by a company out of Edmonton, for a turn-key cost of $194, 290.

She is still receiving quotes from a local company for landscaping and services but council said there is an existing water line, the area is well lit, and mature trees will help provide shade.

Because most grants they are able to apply for only match funding, Friends of Marwayne Society will be fundraising and asking for donations, such as a park bench, to help the project come together.

“I’ve had some amazing community members step forward to help complete this project,” said Delaney.