DALE CARRUTHERS
For the Observer
Corunna is offering kids a fun and free way to stay cool this summer.
On Saturday, a new $160,000 splash pad, located in the Corunna Athletic Park, opened.
We thought it would be the ideal thing to have in the community,” said Optimist Club of Moore president Fred Strickland.
The splash pad features above-ground interactive water toys such as water turrets, buckets and fountains.
Hundred of people attended the opening of the pad, which also featured a barbecue and games. And to make things even wetter, two trucks from the St. Clair Fire Department were on hand showering kids with water and letting them climb on the truck.
Isabel Smith’s three grandchildren were in town visiting for the weekend, so she brought them to the grand opening.
We’re happy to have this splash pad,” Smith said. “I think it’s a great thing.”
Smith, who has lived in Corunna for 45 years, is happy the pad was built because she is always looking for fun things to do when her grandkids come to visit.
They’ll be here next week. They’ll probably go to the splash pad every time they’re in Corunna, she said.
St. Clair councillor Pat Brown brought his grandson Jarron to the pad.
It’s cool,” said seven-year-old Jarron.
Although temperatures on Saturday were cool, Jarron was playing in the splash pad.
Jarron said the pad is a good idea “so kids can have fun.
The Optimist Club of Moore is paying for half the cost of the pad, and St. Clair township is paying for the remainder.
To fund their half, the Optimist Club has done a number of fundraising events including a comedy show, a youth dance and barbecues.
The water bill for the pad will cost around $7,000 per year, estimated Gary Hacket, director of community services.
