Park’s old pool to be splashpad
ABERDARE Park is set to have RCT’s first splashpad after the council handed over the former paddling pool to a community group.
Friends of Aberdare Park are set to bring “Aquadare” to the former pool site, with it set to be the first of its kind in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
The group has taken on the former pool site from the council on a 25 year lease and the area has remained unused since the council closed all the paddling pools it owned and ran back in 2014.
The group has already raised over £240,000 through grants and private donations and is waiting to hear about two grants worth a total of £60,000 which would take it up to £300,000.
The Friends of Aberdare Park have set up a fundraising group responsible for fundraising events and income generation which has allowed the Friends to increase their fundraising activities and make sure the community is involved. The plan is for 16 water appliances at ground level and above with a level rubber surface to allow access for wheelchair users and those who are less mobile.
The council report says the splashpad will use a recycled design and use less water than a single use system so will be more environmentally friendly.
Friends of Aberdare Park have been registered as a charitable incorporated organisation since 2016 with the aim of creating and helping with projects and activities that improve the park and bring benefits to the wider community.
There are letters of support from local schools, businesses and honorary members and so far they have helped introduce a parkrun, improve the memorial garden and rose garden area, repair and reinstate the memorial bench, carried out research on the red and grey squirrels, introduced history walks and held fun days which helped the park gain Green Flag status back in 2018.
The RCT Together Community Asset Transfer Panel considered the application last month and although a concern was raised over the group’s ability to continue to raise funds to cover running and maintenance costs, they were satisfied that the group’s fundraising activity over the last two years and planned fundraising would be enough to meet these costs.
A council report says it will restore a section of Aberdare Park that currently sits empty, unused and dilapidated for the benefit of the wider community and provide an opportunity for accessible water play activities for all.
There will be no impact in terms of business rates as long as it remains free and the group will pay an annual service charge and cover utilities, maintenance and compliance.