By Vicki BROOKER Review Slaff
Elk Point’s newest attraction, the Water Spray Park>Was officially opened during the noon hour on Thursday, with many of those who made its construction possible on hand for the ribbon cutting. Alberta’s Minister of Infrastructure, the Hon. Ray Danyluk, was scheduled to cut the ribbon, but instead, called all the children present to come up and take over the scissors, noting that the facility “is for them - they should do the honours.’ Town Coun. Bernice Capjack welcomed Danyluk and other honoured guests, who included Mayor Parrish Tung, County of St. Paul Reeve Steve Upham and Divisions 1 and 2 Couns. Glen Ockerman and Dwight Dach. She then introduced Water Spray Park fundraising committee chair Valerie Lazicki, “who was instrumental in making this dream come true.”
“We began in the fall of 2009 with a CFEP grant of $76,666, and with community partnerships and fundraisers, we raised approximately $150,000,” Lazicki said. “The town and county are both platinum sponsors and have supported every event we have held. The town staff stepped up to help every time we needed them, and the public bought tickets and bailed each other out of jail to help us raise the money for this.
Lazicki introduced fellow committee members Lynda Letwin, Lynn Berg, Shirley Harms and Bernice Capjack, and said all had been “so enthusiastic about the project. They missed time with their families to help out, and they are so great to work with that words are inadequate.”
She also praised the committee members’ children, who “sold tickets, went door to door collecting bottles and manned concessions without complaint, and the Elk Point RCMP, who took part in a fundraising celebrity hockey game and assisted greatly with the Jail and Bail and duck races.
The RCMP was once again helping out at the official opening, manning the barbecue to serve a complimentary lunch to those who attended. When Valerie puts. her mind to something, your just have to support it,” County Coun. Glen Ockerman said. “County council is approached by many organizations, and she made us see this project and the importance of this to the community. Elk Point and the county grows our youth, and they are our future.”
“This project originated in our community,’ Mayor Tung noted. “Elk Point is ‘the right place to be’ because community members saw a need for something for the kids and went ahead and made it happen. He commented that like the two Elementary School playgrounds, the water spray park had been completed after his son was too old to enjoy the facilities, “and he wants a skateboard park. I told him to get a group together and _ start fundraising. I hear that the teens have 400 supporters now. “This community is very special and the county is very supportive. I hope we will have more projects that benefit the whole area.”
Danyluk thanked Lazicki and her committee and said, “It is the community that makes things like this happen. It’s such an attraction that my granddaughter gave me half a glance and wanted to go to the water park. A nice addition to this would be a water slide. It’s important to have facilities for the kids, this is what makes this community what it is.”
