What does it take to get a splash pad?

Greater Sudbury opens two new splash pads How much do splash pads cost and who is footing the bill? Lyndsay Moggy reports.

With the heat we've had this summer, local splash pads have been packed.

This week in the Sudbury area, two new splash pads opened, with a fundraiser being held for another.

The second annual Yoga in the Park fundraiser took place Wednesday in support of the Copper Cliff Community Action Network and its work to bring a splash pad to the community.

However, it looks like this is just the beginning of a long road.

Margaret Julian is the chair of the Copper Cliff Community Action Network.

"Location still has to be determined because we have to work with the city. And that takes a while to go. We need permits. There has to be design looked at. And last year, they went door-to-door asking if we had support in the community. So, initiatives like this also help us to make aware that we want to go ahead with this because we will need extra people for the committee. We need companies to help with the fundraising." said Julian.

It took the Garson-Falconbridge Community Action Network four years to bring a splash pad to their neighbourhood.

Julie Aube is the chair of that group.

"We had numerous spaghetti dinners with amazing community support and turn out. We raised just under $7,000 in spaghetti alone." said Aube.

Two years ago, city council approved one time funding of $100,000 toward a splash pad at the Onaping Falls Community Centre.

Partnership funding for the purchase and installation of four additional splash pads in the amount of $50,000 per splash pad was also allocated.

Mike Jakubo is the Sudbury city councillor for Ward 7 that includes the communities of Garson and Falconbridge.

"Some of the bigger splash pads you see around town received significant private donations and that's wonderful that those businesses and citizens are coming forward with that money to invest in that infrastructure. When you look at this splash pad here, it’s all fundraising and city funding. So, there's a significant different in cost between those two splash pads and that's where you see the difference." said Jakubo.

City officials say each splash pad is different in terms of how much funding is provided.

Some splash pads cost around $100,000, and some can be valued at upwards of $400,000, but the smiles on the children's faces as they play in the water are priceless.