Summer splash pad for Ingleside

South Stormont Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Amelotte and MPP Jim McDonell pour over some conceptual drawings of the splash pad to be built in Ingleside, Ont. on Friday, May 4, 2018. McDonell announced $70,000 in funding for the project. (Newswatch Group/Bill Kingston)

LONG SAULT – A splash pad will be built in Ingleside this summer, completing a three year recreation puzzle in the South Stormont town.

Local MPP Jim McDonell was at the township office in Long Sault this afternoon (Friday) to make a so-called “echo announcement” of $70,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation toward the $150,000 project.

Mayor Jim Bancroft, Deputy Mayor Tammy Hart and Coun. Richard Waldroff were there. Couns. Donna Primeau and David Smith had previous commitments and weren’t able to attend.

The splash pad is also receiving corporate donations of $20,000, though the donors haven’t been made public. The balance is part of the recreation budget.

MPP McDonell was very upbeat about the splash pad, which will be built off Farren Drive in the Ingleside Community Park, calling the water play structures “all the rage” — especially with his one-year-old granddaughter.

The splash pad will have 15 water features and will meet accessibility requirements.

This is the final piece of redeveloping the park under the Township Recreation Master Plan, which has already seen washroom retrofits, a baseball diamond, play structure and multi-sport court built.

While McDonell and Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Amelotte poured over conceptual drawings, the exact design hasn’t been made public because the tender won’t be approved until Wednesday.

Amelotte said the tender went out with a $150,000 maximum budget which gives the township a better bang for its buck because contractors try to make their proposals the most appealing while staying under budget.

There were three bidders but only two met specifications to be considered for the contract, Amelotte explained.

Construction still start this summer with an Aug. 15 water turn-on date.

The township estimates the splash pad will be the direct benefit for approximately 2,500 youth as well as tourists in the area.