Splash pad deadline slips past. We won't get splashity until next year

Promised to be ready this summer, Sault Ste. Marie's first splash pad won't be operational until spring, members of the city's parks and recreation advisory committee learned Tuesday.

"We're getting close to the finish line," said Virginia McLeod, the city's manager of recreation and culture.

A shelter and utility building and associated underground services are all complete, as are footings for the water features. McLeod told committee members.

"They're finishing up the backfilling and doing the compaction of that backfilling in preparation for the concrete pad to be poured."

Extra care has been taken to minimize the possibility of ground heaving, McLeod said.

"Drainage was a key thing. We wanted to be sure that the site was draining properly."

Most construction work will be completed this year but the splash pad won't been turned on until spring.

The manufacturer will send representatives to the Sault to train local staff on how to operate the splash pad.

"The community's probably going to be a little disappointed that it isn't being completed this year," said Sam Cistaro, a committee member and candidate for Ward 2 city councillor.

"Let's hope that we stay on budget so we don't get a double whammy," Cistaro said.

McLeod said rumours that the project had been delayed by discovery of contaminated soil were untrue.

"No, the soil wasn't contaminated. But we wanted to do additional bore hole samples."

Large boulders had to be removed during excavation of the site.

Another complication was the introduction in July of new Algoma Public Health regulations affecting splash pads.

"Construction's a challenge," McLeod said.

"It's a multifaceted project with multiple trades. We're always trying to time trades during peak season. That always poses challenges."