Splash park coming to Havre Community Pool

Members of The Natalie Patrick Foundation gathered by the Havre Community Pool for a groundbreaking for an addition to activities at the pool - The Natalie Patrick Memorial Splash Park.

Brett Patrick of the foundation said his sister, who died at age 16 when she succumbed to a rare virus in 1998, was very active in events for children, such as volunteering with the Art in the Park summer events at Pepin Park, so a splash park at the pool seemed like a natural fit.

"Natalie was into a lot of stuff with youth around the community," Brett Patrick said.

The foundation, created in 1999, supports many local activities in memory of Natalie, including the Pepin Park activities and school activities in which she was involved.

Brett Patrick said the 50-foot-by-50-foot splash park, just east of the north end of the pool on the 400 Block of Sixth Avenue, is planned to have multiple pieces of equipment including bucket dumps, half circles that spray water for children to run under, and others. He added that children from the foundation helped pick some of the features, and they are including some sunflowers that spray water.

"Natalie loved sunflowers," he said.

Patrick said they are kicking off Phase One with the groundbreaking and hope to complete excavation, laying gravel and getting some concrete work done this summer, and then work on installing the splash park equipment next year.

"(Get) that stuff installed so, hopefully, by next summer, it can be used by the whole community," he said.

The foundation is handling all the construction and then will turn the facility over to the city for maintenance and operation.

He said the foundation wanted to tie it into the community pool, which will also give access to dressing rooms and bathrooms as well as monitoring.

He said the budget is set at $375,000, mostly for the equipment, and the foundation is looking for help with that expense and with the work itself.

He said donations of construction time and materials already are coming in. Patrick Construction and Clausen and Sons will do most of the actual construction, and Havre Sand and Gravel has offered to donate the concrete used, while Schine Electric is offering to donate to help with the electrical portion, Patrick said.

"There's lots within the foundation stepping up," he said, adding the foundation has many ties within the community.

He said people are welcome to help with the project, just labor or donations or anything.

People with questions about the project or about donating to it can contact the foundation via email at npfhavre@gmail or by calling Patrick Construction at 406-265-3351.