This will be the last summer for the eco-park playground at Sunset Point and Collingwood’s last summer without a waterpark.
Dean Collver, director of parks, recreation, and culture, announced he’s confident construction for both sites will take place in September.
Collver delivered an update on both the Sunset Point playground and the Awen Waterplay water park slated for Harbourview Park.
“We’ve arrived at a place where I can speak to the timeline of completion,” said Collver.
Councillor Mariane McLeod asked Collver if the town would be cutting the ribbon on the new facilities by Thanksgiving weekend. He said that's the plan.
At the Sunset Point Playground site, the first structure going in will be the harvest table pavillion, which Collver said would be built and completed this Spring.
Collingwood residents Ray and Wyn Smith have come forward as donors to fund the harvest table pavillion in memory of their son Thom. The table and pavillion will be in the cedar forest near the existing pavillion and future washroom space.
Next, crews will install services in the area for the washrooms and hydro for features such as park lighting, and the firefly forest in June. They will also install the washroom (a pre-fabricated building) next to the existing pavillion.
There will be little to no construction activity in the area in July and August.
Collver said any major construction in the area would require the park be shut down and an eight-foot fence erected around the perimeter at a significant cost.
He said staff will leave the existing park open for the summer, and in the meantime their contractors will be fabricating the play structures in warehouses out of town.
In September, those playground pieces will be delivered and crews will work on the playground surfaces and concrete enclosures for the site.
Among the playground structures being delivered is a 20-foot lighthouse play structure, crafted by Kopman, and modelled after the Nottawasaga Lighthouse.
Collver also said he and his staff are applying for Jumpstart funding for the playground to help accomplish all the “public has told us they want,” at the site.
At Harbourview Park, the design for a waterpark that reflects the water cycle and an Indigenous rain dance is nearly complete. Collver said the town is waiting on health unit approval, and he expects final construction drawings by the end of this month.
There will be a review by the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) in March, which usually takes about three months.
While waiting for NVCA approvals the town will prepare tender documents for the construction, which will begin in August/September, which is about the same time Collver expects to be bringing necessary services to the site.
The water park will feature an upper level created as a nod to an Indigenous raindance. Collver said the town worked with Duke Redbird on the design, which takes the form of a water cycle.
A waterfall begins the process by filling up a shallow “lake.” The lake drains (representing drought), and misters kick-in to mimic fog. They will also signal to the kids the “big splash” is coming, said Collver. The waterfall will gush and rain nozzles will drip rain at the same time.
The water park is in three stages, all following along a “river” of water. The intermediate stage is called the rapids, and it includes jets shooting water overhead and a 12-foot geiser.
At the end of the river is the area for small children, which will feature gentler features such as bubblers.
The Awen Waterplay water park will be located at Harbourview Park near the Awen Gathering Circle and the existing Collingwood multi-use trail.
Learn more about the plans for the Awen Waterplay water park here, and the Sunset Point Park playground here.
