Province to give Fort Erie $500,000 for new accessible splash pad

The announcement of a new splash pad coming to Fort Erie has got both local officials and the community ready for a refreshing dip.

The town will receive $500,000 from the Ontario Community Building Fund spread over 12 months ($41,666/month) to built the splash pad at Lions Sugarbowl Park.

That news had even a member of the NDP’s Opposition happy.

“This splash pad is going to be open longer, provide services to even more residents and do it all free of charge – this is exactly the kind of project I am proud to see the provincial dollars supporting,” said Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates.

“This is a very large investment directly into our Town and many thanks are owed to the teams that drafted and pushed this proposal forward. This new splash pad is going to be used for years to come in our community and I’m proud to see the Province stepping up to play a role.”

Lake Erie’s Kinsmen Pool was built back in 1967 and a town Feasibility Study, written well back in 2011, said the pool “no longer provides residents with a safe and adequate aquatic play environment, nor does it meet accessibility requirements.”

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However, the town added the new aquatic attraction would be accessible to all. “The new splash pad will provide individuals of all ages, abilities, skills and socio-economic status with a free, zero-depth aquatic experience.”

Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop touched on the accessibility issue with regards to the splash pad. “This grant supports our mission to create a barrier-free Fort Erie. By reanimating the existing aquatic facility, we can create a functional splash pad that can be safely accessed by all members of the community, with no fees.”

Redekop thanked the Ontario Trillium Foundation, which doles out the grants through the Community Building Fund, “for supporting our work to build healthy and vibrant communities in Fort Erie.”