While the water started flowing at the Awen Waterplay Park this week, the new Collingwood attraction still has a little while to go before the public can enjoy it.
Although the town had previously expected the park to be open in July, the town’s director of parks, recreation and culture Dean Collver said this week that construction delays have occurred, and was reluctant to provide CollingwoodToday with a specific opening date.
“There’s a lot of last-minute juggling of the finishing touches. I’m comfortable saying (it will be open) in the next couple of weeks,” said Collver. “We are planning for the public opening ceremonies.”
“Right now, we’re in the calibration-and-commissioning stage,” he said.
The Awen Waterplay Park is being constructed in Harbourview Park, adjacent to the Awen Gathering Place. The site includes multiple water-play features including waterfalls, a splash pad, a washroom/change facility and parking. The water throughout the site will be recycled.
Ojibwa adviser, elder and knowledge keeper Dr. Duke Redbird was consulted on the design of the site.
This week, Collver did say that the park requires an inspection from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit due to the recycled water system before it can open to the public. He noted an inspection is scheduled for Aug. 11.
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.
