Tag Archives: Smiths Falls parks

‘No longer repairable’: Aging Smiths Falls splash pad closes for maintenance ahead of scorcher days

The Splash Pad at Lower Reach Park is closed for maintenance. Laurie Weir photo.
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LAURIE WEIR

The splash pad at Smiths Falls’ Lower Reach Park is closed until further notice, and it’s uncertain whether it will reopen this season. Ongoing maintenance challenges, coupled with the aging infrastructure, have prompted town officials to begin considering a full rebuild.

“The splash pad is currently closed for maintenance until further notice,” Stephanie Clark, Director of Community Services, told Hometown News on Friday, June 20. “We require a run of dry days in order for us to make the repairs.”

Clark said the splash pad has reached the end of its lifecycle. Over the past few years, staff patched together features to keep the site safe and operational, removing others along the way, such as the musical piano.

“Our staff … have been able to patch certain things together so that the features are both functional and safe, while removing others (the piano),” she said.

This week, more elements were deemed beyond repair.

Laurie Weir photo.

“A decision was made this week that additional features we had hoped on start-up would last the remainder of this season, were no longer repairable,” Clark said. “To this end, we have decommissioned more of the features of the splash pad at this time … the water blasters are being removed.”

Though the town had budgeted funds for repairs, a recent consultation with infrastructure experts shifted the strategy.

“Their advice is to refrain from attempting large-scale repairs, as the cost would be prohibitive,” Clark said.

Now, staff are assessing the feasibility of a complete rebuild, possibly as part of the 2026 capital budget.

“We are currently assessing our options, and may be seeking this as a capital item in the 2026 budget,” she said.

Determining a price tag is difficult. Lower Reach Park was a landfill from 1959 to 1971, which could require subsurface remediation.

Laurie Weir photo.

“There are a number of factors at play,” Clark said, “specifically, subsurface materials… size and complexity of the features… and the type of water unit that is installed. A splash pad of similar size could easily run north of the $1-million mark.”

A full redesign of the park remains in draft form and is expected to return to council later this summer.

“The earliest we would be looking to undertake a capital project of this sort would be next year, however that is subject to council review and approval,” Clark said.

In the meantime, staff continue regular maintenance routines, including annual start-up and shutdown processes and weekly inspections.

“We also engage in weekly inspections and monitoring of performance,” she said. “Any issues that are noted by staff are documented and dealt with in as timely a fashion as possible.”

Clark asked that residents report concerns through official channels.

“It is important to note… that issues reported through the proper channels allow us to identify them much more quickly,” she said. “Emails to our info@smithsfalls.ca inbox are checked regularly… We do not monitor social media channels for concerns, and ask for the public’s help in ensuring that the information is getting to us in the right manner.”

The splash pad used about $40,000 worth of water last year, a figure expected to rise with hotter summers.

“At this time the water flows from the splash pad into the drain directly and is not subject to recirculation,” Clark said.

The town is exploring the possibility of switching to a more sustainable system.

“Newer equipment and advancements in technology may also allow us to consider more sustainable options moving forward,” she noted.

Recirculation would require higher upfront costs and additional staff training under Ontario pool operation regulations.

Laurie Weir photo.

Clark said her department is conscious of its environmental impact, even without formal water-use restrictions.

“The facility is also on a timer to ensure that it is not left on inadvertently… Leaks that have been detected have been managed… by turning off the features that the lines were feeding or capping that specific line,” she said.

The town is also actively seeking external funding.

“We have applied for some funding to assist us in rolling out our Lower Reach revisioning project, and are always on the lookout for more,” Clark said. “It’s a competitive environment but we continue to build strong applications… especially for infrastructure such as this, that is so important for the community.”

Have your say: Smiths Falls seeks public input on Lower Reach Park redesign

A look at the possible redesign of Lower Reach Park
Photo credit: Screengrab.
SUBMITTED

The Town of Smiths Falls is inviting residents to have their say on the future of Lower Reach Park through a second public survey.

As part of a re-visioning exercise, a Concept Plan has been developed following months of study, public engagement, and stakeholder consultations. The plan aims to ensure the park meets community recreation needs while guiding future investments.Residents can complete the survey online in about five minutes or submit a hard copy to Community Services Coordinator Tana Torch at Town Hall. Submissions will be accepted until Feb. 27, 2025.

Geese, parking and splash pad TLC: Lower Reach Park’s big changes

Geese have been known to take up residence along the waterway in Smiths Falls. The town’s recreation and parks department has come up with a plan to keep them from nesting – they just need the help of Parks Canada to collaborate on the plan to make it more effective. Photo credit: Laurie Weir.
LAURIE WEIR

Lower Reach Park may soon be getting a makeover, including paving the former landfill site to serve as a new parking lot.

Tender loving care (TLC) for the splash pad was also discussed during the committee of the whole meeting on Monday, Dec. 16, along with goose hazing.

Stephanie Clark, the manager of recreation and parks, outlined several projects in her report to council, noting that balancing the department’s initiatives with the budget will require some creativity.

“Rick can save your life, but I bring the joy,” Clark quipped as she presented her report, following fire Chief Rick Chesebrough.

Clark said the splash pad is in dire need of maintenance due to significant drainage issues. It has seen little upkeep in the past 20 years. She is requesting $40,000 for repairs, including levelling the base and replacing some features, though she noted the budget might not allow for all the upgrades at this time.

“Primarily, we want to ensure the bowl is level so we don’t run into drainage issues, which we’ve encountered significantly,” she said.

Coun. Jay Brennan asked about the possibility of installing a rubberized base. While this option is more expensive, Clark said she could provide cost estimates.

“The splash pad is in reasonably good condition,” she added.

Photo credit: Google Maps screengrab.

Paving Paradise?

Plans to redesign Lower Reach Park are expected to be seen in January, with the parking lot’s location a key priority. Clark’s report focused on paving the lot, which she hopes will be relocated closer to the Kinsmen building.

“We anticipate getting direction on where the parking lot will be in early January, and then we can move forward,” she said.

Budget constraints might delay paving until 2026.

The proposed paved lot would be located on the old landfill site, which Clark said would free up “the prettiest spot in the park,” adjacent to the Rideau Canal, for other uses.

“If we bring the parking lot onto town property, we don’t have to worry about an archaeological assessment,” she added.

Lower Reach Park served as a landfill from 1959 to 1971, according to Paul McMunn, the town’s director of public works, which he shared in an email exchange with this publication on Dec. 19. 

Groomer Request

The parks and recreation department is also seeking $10,000 to $12,000 for a groomer attachment for tractors or lawn mowers. The equipment would help rake twigs and leaves, saving staff time, particularly in dealing with goose droppings. However, it isn’t suitable for use in Murphy Park due to the sandy beach slope.

Clark said this piece of equipment would be substantial in freeing up staff as they take quite a bit of time now to rake the parks. 

Goose Hazing

Efforts to manage the town’s goose population have been successful, Clark reported.

“For the first time, there was no nesting or eggs on town land,” she said, though nests were found on Parks Canada property.

“We don’t have passport control for geese, so they come south to Centennial Park, and we had to deal with that,” Clark said. “You can’t haze geese when their flight feathers are coming in, so there was a six-week period when we couldn’t chase them off.”

Clark noted improvements after hazing resumed, using non-lethal methods such as trained dogs.

A dog and handler patrolled town parks about three days a week this season to deter geese from nesting, she explained in a Dec. 19 follow-up email. Flags and sound/light systems were also deployed, but with limited success.

Goose hazing costs about $10,000 per park, Clark said.

She added that Parks Canada has shown interest in collaborating on a goose management plan, which would be more effective if implemented on federal land.

Mayor Shawn Pankow agreed with getting the green light from Parks Canada, saying their cooperation is crucial for a successful strategy.

Budget talks will continue into the new year before final approval.