LANIGAN — The Lanigan and District Water Park Committee is making lengths towards the construction of the town’s new family and athletic swimming pool.
To date, $628,000 of the $850,000 needed to begin construction has been raised. The council plans to break ground in the field west of Whitetail Road in the fall of 2020, and continue to work towards the total projected cost of almost $2 million.
Fundraising towards a new pool have been underway since 2014. It’s an effort to replace the town’s old pool and its aging issues, while creating a newer and more accessible facility, said committee member Jennifer Thompson through an email.
The new site is planned to feature an olympic pool of 4,000 square feet, a 148-foot water slide, a vortex pool for exercise, a splash park, and a beach-style entrance “for families and anyone with mobility challenges, encouraging anyone to enjoy water and be physically active,” Thompson said.
“Our pool does not self-fund as the usage has declined due to the facility not being as family friendly as other pools with beach entry,” she said. “The paddling pool was not heated and did not meet today’s standards for disinfection and has not functioned for years.”
Lanigan’s current pool doesn’t have family change rooms, which is another feature set to be included in the new one.
The efforts so far have been made possible by tremendous community support, Thompson said, said as donations of $50,000 each from the Jansen and District Kinsmen Club, Richardson Pioneer and Saskatoon Community Foundation. Other corporate and private donations have been made, and “each donation stands out,” Thompson said.
“This is an ambitious project for our community and a great addition to our full-service community. The benefits of increased affordable summer activities for all communities around Lanigan will benefit many generations into the future.”
