Members of the Osoyoos Splash Park Committee officially kicked off a public fundraising campaign last week after members of town council voted in favour of proceeding with building the park by releasing $100,000 from a reserve fund during 2013 budget talks. Members of the local committee include (from left) Gerald Davis the town’s director of community services, Carol Nesdoly, who works in operational services with the town, and town councillor Mike Plante. A sign has been erected in front of town hall that will monitor how much money has been raised through the public fundraising campaign in the coming weeks. Photo by Keith Lacey.

 

It’s going to take a spirited community effort to raise some significant dollars, however, it’s all but certain the new splash park for the Town of Osoyoos is going to open as scheduled this summer.
Members of Town of Osoyoos council have tentatively approved funding for the splash park to open this summer by approving the release of $100,000 that had been placed in a reserve fund from previous years, while the local splash park committee has officially kicked off a public fundraising campaign last week.

While the final costs of the splash park haven’t been finalized, it is expected to cost $250,000 to $300,000, said Gerald Davis, the town’s director of community service and a member of the local splash park committee.
Town of Osoyoos Coun. Mike Plante and Carol Nesdoly, who works in operational services for the town, and Davis gathered to discuss the public fundraising campaign last week at town hall. Plante is also a member of the splash park committee.
“Now that council has given its tentative approval to proceed, the obvious goal is to get this in the ground this year,” said Plante. “We’ve set a goal of getting the splash park open some time in June and that’s still the goal.
“We’re now officially in fundraising mode. We ask an awful lot from this community when it comes to supporting good causes, but we’re going to ask again because they always come through and this is a project that is truly going to benefit the entire community for many years to come.”
The fact a state-of-the-art splash park is only months away from becoming a reality is going to make an awful lot of people in this community happy, said Davis.
“This project has been talked about for many years and hasn’t become a reality for a number of reasons, but we formed this splash park committee several months ago determined to make it happen and we’re thrilled it looks like it’s finally going to become a reality,” he said.
When you live in a community that has the hottest weather in the country and attracts tens of thousands of tourists every spring, summer and fall, there’s no doubt the splash park is going to become an instant hit with locals and visitors alike, said Plante.
Any individual or business making a charitable donation to the splash park, will receive a tax receipt.
The Osoyoos Rotary Club has been a wonderful community sponsor and has already raised a significant amount of funds for the splash park and is planning on holding a few more events before construction begins, said Davis.
“They have set a target and I know they’ve already raised a lot of money, in the $20,000 range, to go towards the splash park,” he said.
A package is being finalized where donors to the splash park would receive certain recognition from the town based on how much they donate to the cause, said Davis.
“We’re hoping to finalize our sponsorship package very soon,” he said.
The splash park committee is also in the final stages of organizing a fundraising raffle, which will hopefully generate another large chunk of money for the splash park, said Davis.
“Details will be coming soon,” he said.
With council approving $100,000 towards the project, initial infrastructure work at Jack Shaw Gardens will begin in the next few weeks, said Davis.
Plante reiterated that a splash park in Osoyoos is going to be a major amenity in this community for decades to come.
“Everybody in the community seems to be on board,” he said. “We’re looking to attract younger families to this community and this will be a huge asset.
“We’re going to be able to work out programs with the Sonora Centre, the daycare centre and elementary school. This is truly for the community and we’re so excited to be so close to seeing this be a big part of our town to come.”