The Town of Neepawa unveiled a plan this week to renovate the swimming pool and play structure area of Riverbend Park, proposing a new multi-purpose building, water slide, a natural water play area, and significant landscaping changes as well as moving the current parking lot. Existing buildings will either be removed or converted to other purposes.

Some of the improvements, such as the water play area and hilly landscaping, are intended for entirely recreational purposes. The water slide in particular is expected to be a tourism draw in addition to serving local residents. Others have more practical purposes.

Moving the driveway and parking lot is not simply to increase parking and accommodate the new building layout, but because the current lot lies directly between the swimming pool and the play structures. Children are constantly running between the two spaces, causing numerous close calls in the lot.

The current playgrounds will stay where they are. As Cooper explains, even though they are relatively new, playground specifications have changed to the point where if the structures were unfastened and moved, they would need to be replaced. As it is, they are grandfathered into the regulations.

The town has already secured some funding for the waterslide and parking lot, but according to Mayor Blake McCutcheon they still need to seek funding for further improvements following the consultation process. Construction on the elements that have already been funded is expected to begin next year, although COVID-related supply chain issues may delay the process.

Public response to the proposal has so far been largely positive.