The St. Joseph Community Survey found that the community wants a splash pad.
47 percent of respondents thought the splash pad should go at the Community sports complex.
When asked what type of recreational facilities they would like to see added to the parks 105 people out of 191 respondents put a splash pad as their first, second or third choice.
When asked what kind of overall features the community should have 49 out of 178 residents selected a splash pad as their first, second or third choice. 42 residents responded with a new community building as their first second or third choice.
Recently, the St. Joseph Splash Pad Committee held a meeting with Ryan Eccles from Vortex Aquatic Play Solutions.
During the meeting Splash Pad Committee Chairperson Julie Hendrickson stressed that the pad would be to honor former Mayor B.J. Hackler.
“He was very instrumental in getting the park property and getting the park developed,” she said. “His girls wanted to have people donate to the parks and recreation and recommended the splash pad.”
Hendrickson said she knew the community supported the idea of a splash pad.
“I know what the family feels about it and what the community feels about it,” she said.
Henderson said the project moving forward was important to her.
“I want to see this happen for this community,” she said.
Today, the St. Joseph Dairy Queen is supporting the cause and having a fundraiser. 10 percent of the net profits from today will be donated to the splash pad.
The committee also has a Gofundme set up and donations can be made at village hall.
Eccles told the committee about the importance of public relations, fundraising and making sure the village was on the same page as the grassroots fundraisers.
He also told the group that it would cost around $150,000 to create a splash pad that 40 kids could use at one time. He also told the group that the pad could be done in phases with the infrastructure placed at the time of creation.
He also provided the group with information on grants. The grants would have to be applied for by the village but could help by paying for a portion of the splash pad.
Hendrickson said she hopes to see the pad open by 2023.
“I love this community and I want to see this happen for the children here,” Hendrickson said.
The committee has created a webpage and a Facebook which can be found here and here.
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