The new spray park at Kinsmen Park was a top attraction on Canada Day.(Glenn Hicks/paNOW Staff)

By Glenn Hicks

public infrastructure

Families welcome a dash through the splash at Kinsmen Park

Jul 2, 2019 | 5:00 PM

From the polluted off-limits waters of the North Saskatchewan River three years ago to a safe, fun place for kids to splash and cool down this summer. The mayor of Prince Albert is welcoming the arrival of the city’s latest amenity that had its origins in an environmentally dark chapter.

The new splash park at Kinsmen Park partially opened for Canada Day, paid for with part of the million dollars pledged by Husky Energy to the city after the 2016 oil spill.

Greg Dionne called the unveiling a soft-opening with a more formal event to come down the road.

“We have to test the equipment to make sure it’s right, and there’s a timer on so when the kids press the buttons at either end of the park the water comes on for 40 seconds at a time,” Dionne explained to paNOW at the site, Tuesday.

The amenity includes various water stations and toys that squirt or dunk water on the kids.

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P.A. Mayor Greg Dionne shows off the new park with some of the water-spraying figurines that was commissioned with money from Husky Energy. (Glenn Hicks/paNOW Staff)

“I like all the animals, the eagle and the bears and buffalo that you can have a water fight with. They’re traditional to our area and I’m very pleased with it,” he said.

Not all the equipment is in full working order but that didn’t stop the space becoming filled with the joyous screams of youngsters Monday who were eager to explore the refreshing novelty. The adults in the park had their own reasons to run through a drenching on Monday afternoon, but that was weather-related.

Dionne added the exterior to the accompanying toilets at the former Ella Muzzy paddling pool will also get an upgrade. The graffiti-strewn walls aren’t exactly in keeping with the new surroundings.

The public washrooms at the spray park need a much-needed makeover but Dionne promised that would be done soon. (Glenn Hicks/paNOW Staff)

For the city and the mayor, who lobbied Husky to secure the so-called ‘apology’ money after the 2016 spill, the spray park is just the first in a three-part bonanza. The million dollars will also pay for the completion of the Rotary Trail and for a digital billboard that will promote community and city events and information. Dionne said half the total payment would be in from Husky by next month with the remaining $250,000 instalments coming in 2020, and 2021.

“We’re only having to finance the other two projects. It’s all secured, why wait?” he said. “Husky is credible, we have a letter of agreement and we’re not worried about payment.”

Now, if we could only get a few hot summer days, who knows who you might spot taking a dash through the new splash at Kinsmen Park.

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow