St. Catharines okays new splash pad in Merritton park location

Secord Woods Park in the Merritton area of St. Catharines will be the location of the city’s fifth splash pad.

After some debate, it was finalized at the last City Council meeting after public consultation showed the area community was onboard with the new location near Applewood Public School (130 Woodrow St).

A seasonal washroom and full-time sun shelter will be installed at the site which was see construction start this summer with a completion date of spring 2024.

After the splash pad is installed, city staff will then work at getting the playground in Secord Woods Park moved closer to the water fixture but will hold off shifting it until the playground actually needs repairs in the next six to 10 years.

Though the city had originally tagged the cost of the pad at $1 million, another $350,000 had to be added after the cost of construction material rose during the pandemic.