DIDSBURY - Councillors have held discussions on the proposed spray park project. The update came during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
To date the town has not offered any financial support for the project, which is being spearheaded by a local group.
After some discussion, councillors passed a motion directing administration to send a letter to the spray park association officials asking them to present council with a business plan including projected operation, maintenance and capital costs on a 2,000-square-foot facility.
"It's a group that's in the community that's trying to do something for the community," Coun. Bill Windsor said during the discussions. "It's just that, first of all, it will entail a whole new look at the outlying plan to see where this could possibly fit in if we're going to make a commitment to this group. I'm not sure we're prepared for that.
"In addition to that, we've got a five-lane, six-lane and hot tub splash park (Didsbury pool) 50 feet away. I have an awful lot of difficulty with misleading or giving a group in the community false hope."
Coun. John Baswick said he didn't want to "dampen that entrepreneurial spirit individual groups are showing to better our community.
"I don't know how you can stop that," he said, adding that you want to encourage the proposals but you need to get the proper information.
Coun. Curt Engel said it's hard to allocate land to something when you don't know how much it will cost.
"I too encourage the entrepreneurial spirit but maybe they need to do a little more work and come out with those figures for us," said Engel. "We don't know what the operational costs are and we don't know what the build is. Without that how can we sit here and say how we're going to give land away. Maybe we should ask them to come back with some facts and figures before we can determine if we're prepared to give land."
Mayor Rhonda Hunter told the Gazette that she recognizes that there is a need for a clear process to assist council in considering these types of community initiatives and projects.
"This process would also provide guidelines to groups as to how to get their projects considered and/or approved," said Hunter. "It was clear during discussion on May 22 that council does not want to discourage the enthusiasm or enhancements to existing recreation (and other) amenities and wants to assist with clear direction for the benefit of volunteer groups, administration and council."
