The City of North Battleford is moving ahead with a splash park project in Centennial Park to be built in 2011.
At Monday's meeting, they awarded the tender for the Centennial Park splash pool to Park and Play Design. Park and Play Design's winning bid was $173,610.20 (GST included). Water Odyssey will be the water product supplier for the project.
Their bid beats out a $209,415.15 (GST included) by Dynamic Construction that would have seen Water Play Solutions as the water product supplier. Tenders closed for the project Oct. 12.
The 2010 capital budget had set aside $200,000 for the project, which will convert the wading pool at Centennial Park to a splash park. The project calls for removal of the existing pool, supply and installation of spray park components and reclamation of the site. Full installation and operation for the pool is to be completed by June 15.
Councillor Trent Houk said the splash park was much needed.
"I'm glad to see this is moving forward in the New Year," said Houk, who noted the project is coming in about $27,000 under budget.
There was discussion about whether Centennial Park was the right location to build a splash park. Councillor Don Buglas raised the concerns, questioning whether the proposed location was visible and accessible enough to the public.
"It's in behind the ballpark, it's kind of a hidden entity," Buglas said. "It doesn't necessarily jump out at you."
Parks and Recreation Director Stuart York said the idea was to use the existing water and sewer infrastructure. Putting it in another location would mean higher costs, he said, something Houk indicated he was not comfortable with.
There was some discussion from councillors about possibly putting up different signage to better indicate the splash park's location. York suggested parks and recreation could make efforts to trim shrubs in the area and help make the location more visible and welcome. He noted a conventional playground is nearby.
Buglas's concerns about location were not enough to stop him from joining the other councillors in unanimously approving the tender.
Council also awarded the tender for the purchase of a tandem truck box to Fort Garry Industries of Saskatoon for $26,950.00, all taxes included. The city already approved the purchase of a truck cab and chassis from Frontline Truck and Trailer for $100,634.50.
Five bids had come in for the tandem truck box tender, with the prices ranging from $26,950 to $30,644.
