The floodgates are finally open as the Awen’ Waterplay park, complete with a splash pad, is now open to the public.
During a media event prior to the public opening on Friday, the town’s director of parks, recreation and culture Dean Collver reflected on the connections between the Awen Gathering Place and the Awen’ Waterplay, both at Harbourview Park.
“We thought there needed to be some connection between the two spaces,” said Collver. “We wanted to build something that would be representative of that intention.”
The Awen’ Waterplay Park is at Harbourview Park, adjacent to the Awen Gathering Place with the water flowing from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The site includes multiple water-play features including waterfalls, a splash pad with animal water activators, a washroom/change facility, an outdoor shower and parking.
The site features three distinct play areas, including one for toddlers close to benches so parents can monitor play. Approximately 40 different apparatus make up the complement of jets within the entire waterplay area.
Ojibwa adviser, elder and knowledge keeper Dr. Duke Redbird was consulted on the design of the site, and designed the Thunderbird that is featured behind the waterfall with his son Jay Bell Redbird prior to his son’s passing.
Thunderbirds (or Animkiig) maintain a protective relationship to the Anishinaabe people and serve the practical task of commanding storm clouds and bringing rain.
“Duke has an incredible mind that has one foot in history and tradition, and one foot in the modern world,” said Collver. “He is a great translator and interpreter and helped us to see these connections.”
Envision Tatham worked with the town and Redbird to design the site, and representative Dave Wood noted the challenge of working on the project while the town is dealing with a water shortage.
“That really pushed this project into exploring a circulation system,” said Wood. “We didn’t want to waste water.”
The system providing the water needed is a recycling system that cleans the water flowing through a 17,000-litre tank. The water is treated using chlorine and UV filtration, and will be tested every two hours by town staff while the park is in operation. The system was designed by Regicom Contracting.
“It’s safe and ready to be used,” said Wood.
The town has also partnered with Creemore-based charity Water First, who will be tasked with helping to share education and awareness at the Awen’ Waterplay as well as assist in opportunities for the public to support co-created solutions with Indigenous communities to bring safe, clean water to those communities long-term.
The last budget estimates provided by the town for the overall project hit $2.5 million as of May 2022, after staff brought forward issues they had been dealing with on the project such as supply chain and vendor access. The original budget for the project, when it was proposed, had been $1.5 million. Updated cost figures are not yet available. The cost did include bringing utilities and servicing to the site.
An official grand opening and ribbon cutting for the Awen’ Waterplay is expected on Aug. 24 at 11 a.m.
