The momentum continues to build for the Gilbert Plains Splash Park as they have received their first major grant.
Vice President of the Gilbert Plains Splash Park Initiative, Cory Gulenchin, says the grant of $75,000 is a huge stepping stone for them.
“This is one of the first grants that we’ve ever gotten for the splash park. The bulk of the money that we’ve raised so far, in excess of $70,000 right now, has come just from grassroots fundraising and a lot of events and planning and stuff like that. From just doing things local here, 75 is a huge chunk, this is gonna be a huge stepping stone for us in order to get some more grants to fulfil the dream of building this park.”
Gulenchin says Melissa Stefaniw was a big reason for this grant by helping them with grant writing. Going forward, Cory says she’ll be able to help them apply for more grants because she knows what they are and aren't eligible for.
“It’s just amazing how fast we got this one. We’re very grateful that we can move forward on this. I think people will start to see that there is actual money coming in for this project and it’s just gonna move us forward and get us there, that much quicker.”
Gulenchin says completing the goal of $400,000 to build the splash park will put them on the map.
“This is not an ordinary splash park, this thing is massive, it is huge, it’s one of a kind and it’s going to be a lot bigger than some of the other ones that the communities do have right now. Having that for a small community like Gilbert Plains, it’s going to attract a lot more to the Centennial Park where the campgrounds are and possibly for the golf course itself.”
The Splash Park Initiative is also doing a field of dreams and they already have a 150-acre field of canola seeded and sprayed. Signs with all the sponsors will be displayed at the field. Gulenchin is hoping for a good bumper crop this year to make some good money.
