New splash pad comes to Whyte Ridge

Winnipeg South

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This article was published 12/07/2023 (797 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Families in Whyte Ridge and surrounding areas have a new place to cool off this summer. The Whyte Ridge Community Centre is officially the home of a brand-new splash pad.

With over 3,000 square feet of space, the splash pad will be a great feature to serve our growing community in Winnipeg South. The new amenity is wheelchair accessible and came with upgraded features throughout the community centre grounds, including new benches, picnic tables, and upgraded landscaping.

The splash pad is a welcome addition to the neighbourhood, which has a growing population of young families with children. Before the splash pad, there was no public space nearby to swim or cool off during the hot summer months. Now, the Whyte Ridge splash pad will be a staple of summertime activities for families in Whyte Ridge and surrounding areas.

Since the idea was first proposed years ago, it has been truly inspiring to see the community rally support behind the project. It was just over a year ago that I gathered with community members to break ground on the new project, with commitments from all levels of government to contribute funding.

The federal government teamed up with the province and the city to deliver a total $1,000,000 to fund the project. The federal portion of the funding came from the Government of Canada’s Community Revitalization Fund, contributing $375,000.

The opening ceremony, held June 24, was a huge success. I was joined by representatives from the province, the city, and the community centre to cut the ribbon, officially welcoming the public to use the new space.

We had dozens of neighbours join us for the inauguration, and lots to enjoy with speeches, food trucks, and good weather. Of course, the opening ceremony would not be complete without a few of us jumping in and trying out the splash pad for ourselves.

This project could not have been achieved if not for the tireless efforts of the Whyte Ridge Community Centre board of directors, as well as president Kimberley O’Hara, past-president Curtis Rossow, and local representatives at the city, provincial, and federal levels.

Thank you to everyone who helped bring this project to fruition. Now let’s all enjoy the summer!