Splash pad likely won’t open this year

Heather Wright/The Independent

Petrolia’s splash pad won’t be ready for this summer as expected.

Petrolia town council approved a nearly $1.2 million contract for AgriUrban Construction to build a washroom and concession stand and lay the ground work – concrete, drainage, water and electricity – for the building at the Tank Street centre this summer.

The town raised almost $900,000 through the 2024 taxes for the project with another $304,000 coming out of the Petrolia Y reserve fund.

The project includes preparatory work for the installation of the long awaited splash pad which originally was supposed to open this summer.

Council approved a loan to the Petrolia Kiwanis club last year to cover the cost of the splash pad of $150,000 which the club will pay over 10 years. It has paid the first installment.

“The splash pad equipment arrived last fall and is ready for installment this fall. We anticipate the official opening of the splash pad next year,” said Julie Bullock, director of parks, recreation and facilities in Petrolia.

The work will begin as construction on the new soccer fields and the reconstruction of Tank Street continue.

Last fall, council approved a $1.7 million project for the soccer fields and to build a new access off Tank Street to a 100-space parking lot between the road and the new soccer fields. Part of the money for the project came from a federal/provincial grant. It was hoped the ground work for the splash pad could be completed then, however construction cost estimates soared.

Part of the cost for the scaled-back project – about $352,000 – was to be paid in 2024. About $240,000 was also taken out of the Y reserve for that part of the project.

The town is also in the middle of road reconstruction in the area, too. It also came in over budget with town staff scaling back some of the work that had to be done. It will cost almost $1.3 million.CAO Rick Charlebois said the area will be busy for some time but “this is going to be great once we’re all done. Hopefully all the work will be done by the fall – don’t quote me on that,” he told council with a laugh.