MELFORT — A new playground and splash park for the Spruce Haven Park is expected to open in August.
Melfort Mayor Rick Lang said the city was hoping for an official unveiling late in the summer. “Things could happen to change that, but that’s kind of the plan, to have everything completed by then.”
Lang said the splash park is the next step in the city’s plan to develop Spruce Haven.
“Part of that was the skate park, that was phase one,” he said. Last year’s completion of the skate park cost the city about $700,000.
“Phase two is going to be our spray park and playground, and we’ll build on that. There is going to be some increased access to walking trails. Eventually I think there is supposed to be an outdoor exercise area.”
The city allotted about $1.2 million for the recreational area this year, to develop the splash park, playground, pathway extension, a maintenance shed and soccer field equipment.
The splash park will include about a dozen different sprinklers that shoot water out of the ground. One of the sprinklers is planned to be a miniature version of the Melfort water tower.
“It drops water on any kid underneath it … so it’s pretty elaborate.”
Lang said all the water used at the park will be recyclable.
“It’s economical that way,” Lang said. “It will all go through a filtration system and then be reused. It’s something that’s quite common with modern technology and modern facilities nowadays.”
Lang said the city also intends to build a second ice surface at Spruce Haven, but that will be “substantially down the road.”
“We can develop the bulk of the recreational facility, the entirety of the recreational facility, which is Spruce Haven Park. We can develop the bulk of that with the dollars that are affordable then go into the bigger items towards the end. It’s always been part of the master plan to have a spray park there.”
The playground and splash park will be located south of the skate park. It is expected to be mobility accessible for all users.
