Village of Constantine to apply for splash pad grant

Angie Birdsall
·1 min read
A rendering of the Constantine splash pad.
A rendering of the Constantine splash pad.

CONSTANTINE — The Constantine village council has approved a Michigan Spark Grant application for $225,000 for a splash pad.

Administered by the DNR, the grants support public recreational facilities that make it easier for people to enjoy both indoor and outdoor recreation. The village Downtown Development Association has pledged $25,000 toward constructing the splash pad.

It would be constructed by Vortex Aquatic Structures. The village proposes to build it on property they own east of the village office/fire station, on East Water Street.

The splash pad would have a total area of 1,980 feet, which includes 1,150 feet of spray area. It would offer a silhouette pelican, a spray link arch, fan and fountain, a twin splash area, a "water bug" and wolf cannon.

In other news:

  • Myra Mathers and Richard Larrance were re-elected as write-in candidates in the Nov. 8 election. Josh LaFluer opted not to run. This leaves one vacancy on the council. An application to fill the vacancy will be in the December village newsletter, after which the council has the option to interview applicants and appoint a trustee.

  • In a memo, village manager Mark Honeysett said the village is working on a 40-year USDA/Rural Development loan application to construct a new fire station. The projected cost is $2,663,000. It includes a 10 percent contingency fee of $50,000 for building demolition, and $77,000 for tank removal. An EPA grant has been approved for removing the tanks. The two items represent a savings of $127,000, which will reduce the size of the USDA loan to $2,536,000. If the USDA loan is approved, construction likely will take place in 2025.

This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Village of Constantine applies for Michigan Spark Grant for splash pad