Families will have an unexpected benefit from the new Kingston East community centre, and it won’t cost taxpayers a dime.

City council has approved a partnership with the Pittsburgh Community Benefit Fund (PCBF) to install a $300,000 splash pad on the future community centre site near Highway 15 and Grenadier Drive.

“The splash pad is proposed to be medium sized, or approximately 200-250 square metres, which is similar in size to the newly developed splash pad in Woodbine Park,” according to a staff report.

The new community centre will cost an estimated $10.5 million and the funds are already part of the 2018 capital budget. However, the project did not include funding for a splash pad.

“The addition of a splash pad would be funded through a $300,000 contribution from the PCBF,” according to city staff.

The Pittsburgh fund was set up prior to amalgamation in 1997 with surplus reserves from the former the former Pittsburgh Township. The multi-million dollar fund, which city hall cannot access, is managed by a separate board to the benefit of east end residents. The board recently decided to allocate some of its money for a splash pad, and city council agreed to accept the grant based on staff’s recommendation.

“The scale of the proposed splash pad is appropriate, given the scale of the park, and is able to be integrated suitably into the design.”

The Pittsburgh fund grant has some strings attached, namely:

  • the board will approve the final splash pad design before construction starts,
  • the board will be apprised of the progress of the project at specific milestones,
  • in exchange for the capital contribution, the PCBF will be provided meeting space at no cost in the new Kingston East Community Centre to hold their regular meetings (up to 15 a year) and annual general meetings (up to three a year) for the next 40 years.
Proposed community centre design - one storey

Proposed design of Kingston east community centre

Kingston east currently has two splash pads but neither is viewed as easily accessible to most residents.

There is a small sized splash pad that was recently developed in Molly McGlynn Park in the Greenwood Park subdivision. This splash pad is located internal to the neighbourhood and used primarily by local residents. There is also an older large splash pad located at the Battoche Community Centre at CFB Kingston. While open to the public at large, it’s used primarily by military families, according to staff.

The new splash pad will be constructed at the same time as the rest of the community centre. The 20,000 square foot centre is expected to include a full-size gymnasium, community kitchen, café and public common area, fitness studio, art rooms, plus additional meeting and program space. The building in Grenadier Park, located just north of LaSalle Secondary School, will also include on-site parking and room for a future skating rink.

Proposed Kingston East community centre layout

Here’s an overview of the proposed location of Kingston east community centre

Construction of the Kingston East Community Centre is expected to begin in 2019 with a grand opening targeted for 2020.