The Greater Athabasca Community Foundation (GACF) is nearing its fundraising goal to build a new splash park in Boyle.
The foundation has raised approximately $290,000 for the project over three years, according to chair Lindsey Stanton. That is approximately $20,000 short of the goal for the project, Stanton said, and she said the GACF expects the difference to be made up of in-kind grants on building supplies.
“We’re pretty excited,” Stanton said. “We’ve got lots of families that have worked really, really hard at doing hot dog sales and all sorts of other things. We can’t wait.”
However, Stanton stressed the GACF’s exact funding figures would await its year-end finances after being sorted by an accountant, which should be done by end of February.
The society hopes to have the splash park completed by fall this year, Stanton said. She added that the project would be an important place to help keep people in Boyle.
“It’s going to keep people in our community instead of driving to the next town over,” Stanton said. “Our families are going to stay in Boyle and spend money in Boyle so it will be good for Boyle’s economy.”
However, the matter of the park’s annual operating costs remains under discussion. The Village of Boyle seeks to have the cost split 50-50 with Athabasca County, according to village chief administrative officer Charlie Ashbey. The matter was set for discussion at a joint meeting between village and county councils Jan. 8, Ashbey said, which did not occur before publish time.
“We don’t think it’s unreasonable given the magnitude of regional facilities that are in the town (of Athabasca) in proportion,” Ashbey said. “We have some pretty modest facilities in the village.”
The annual operating costs of the splash park are estimated at $40,000, although it is hard to know for sure until the park beings operating, Ashbey added.
Athabasca County council voted to decline the request to share the operating costs during its Sept. 28 meeting, on the basis of needing further information.
Boyle council had moved to approve the splash park project at its Jan. 17, 2017, on the condition the county pay for 50 per cent of the annual operating costs.
After the County’s motion, the matter was tabled for a joint council meeting, Ashbey said. He added that he would not portray what happened as a big breakdown in communication.
“It’s a new recreational facility and we’re dealing with it as brand new,” Ashbey said. “They want to do their due diligence.”
Stanton said she thinks both the village and county will work hard to get the issue resolved.
“The county and the village want to see this happen. They’re going to do their best to resolve the issues and get it finalized as quick as possible so we can move forward,” Stanton said.
Once the spray park is completed, the GACF seeks to move on to other projects, such as a skate park, Stanton said.
The unity it took to fundraise for the spray park was really nice to see, she added.
“It’s been long, it’s been hard but it’s also been a lot of fun. We got a good group of families,” Stanton said. “It’s not only our committee, either. It’s a whole community of Boyle. We need something (and) there’s always somebody out there that will help us.”
