The spray park was a community project for the Grand Forks Rotary Club. Rotary raised the money, including a contribution from the City of Grand Forks.
They were nine platinum sponsors (contributing $10,000 or more), 13 gold sponsors (contributing between $500 and $10,000, and 14 silver sponsors (contributing between $250 – $500). There were numerous residents who contributed other amounts.
A plaque at the park names these sponsor, but as Rotarian Lynne Burch says, “We had to have a cutoff so you had to make a minimum $250 contribution to get your name on the plaque at the spray park. There were numerous residents that handed us cheques for various amounts.”
The park was constructed on city property; the city will also insure the park.
The city hired Rec Tec Industries to act as the general contractor. Rotary’s role included the fundraising and the public awareness. “It should be noted that our local Rotary Club generated a significant amount of funding from kettle corn sales and our Lobsterfest dinners, Burch added. “Rotary’s cash contribution was second only to the city’s contribution.”
Rotary did all the work, including working with the general contractor on the design, all the fundraising, and publicity. The Rotary Club approached the city to begin construction, once the funding (including the city’s contribution) was secured.
This is the Rotary Spray Park, which is now owned by the City of Grand Forks. They have ownership as they will maintain the park in perpetuity and all warranties will be paid to the city, Burch confirmed.
