By Barb McKay

The Kincardine Lions Club wants you to help it make a splash.

The club will hold a fundraising banquet and silent auction on May 11 to raise money to build a splash pad at Lions Park. The event, aptly named Make a Splash, will be the first in a series of events to raise funds to transform the park at the Davidson Centre into a premier destination for families.

The Kincardine Lions Club had hoped to construct the splash pad in July 2014, but after the municipality elected to set money aside in a reserve fund for the project rather than include it in the 2013 budget, the club is aiming to build the splash pad the following summer.

“This is essential,” said Lions member Kelly King, who is helping to organize the event. “This is something we need to have in our community.”

King said Kincardine is experiencing a baby boom and young families need a place to take their children in the summertime. She said the beach can present dangers for young children, particularly when there are undertows, and the splash pad will be a safe option. The splash pad will include a number of different features that kids can try out. The play area will be 60 feet by 40 feet in size.

“It’s not a small park we’re going for,” King said. “It will be quite an elaborate park.”

The park is expected to cost $650,000 to complete, including the splash pad, water and sewer hookups, road work, washrooms and change rooms and landscaping. The municipality has been asked to pick up 60 per cent of the cost and the Lions Club will pay 40 per cent.

The banquet will be held at the Davidson Centre hall with cocktails at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m., with a brief presentation about the vision for Lions Park. The silent auction will be open from 5:30 p.m. until 9 p.m.

Tickets are $30 per person or $240 for a table of eight. For more information visit the Splash Pad for Kincardine event page on Facebook.