Fort St. John's new and improved spray park is officially open. City council, Rotarians, and other dignitaries cut the ribbon on the Rotary Spray Park Friday afternoon.
"I'm very excited about all the memories this project is going to bring in the years to come," said Raven Pruden, president of the Rotary Club of Fort St. John.
The park opened three weeks ago, with a planned grand opening June 29 pushed to this week due to rain. Still, the park has seen no shortage of use, with an average of 100 residents dropping by every day, Mayor Lori Ackerman said.
The park includes a new splash pad with a rubberized surface, a plaza with shaded shelter, a walking trail, and a boardwalk. Washrooms and a picnic shelter will be built in the next year, Ackerman said.
"It's a new and revised family activity for our community," Ackerman said. "It's a great example of how community comes together to build an idea and bring it to life."
The prime contractor on the project was TGK Irrigation, based in Burnaby. Construction was challenged and delayed by weather, including early winter in 2016, and a late spring in 2017.
The project saw $445,000 in grants and donations toward its construction, with both the Rotary Club and the Sunrise Rotary Club of Fort St. John contributing a combined fundraising commitment of $200,000.
