LANIGAN — An effort to replace a swimming pool in Lanigan stands to receive a $250,000 boost – if enough people vote for it online.
The Lanigan and District Water Park Committee is one of four finalists in the Kraft Heinz Project Play contest.
Online voting for the four projects begins on Oct. 18 at 10 a.m. Sask. time on kraftheinzprojectplay.com and will go until Oct. 20 at 10 a.m. Sask. time. The grand prize winner will be announced between Oct. 20 and 23. The other three will receive $25,000 each.
“The swimming pool is a huge part of the community. It’s the hub of the community. It’s the place kids go to hang out,” said a person interviewed for a video announcing Lanigan as a finalist.
The current pool was built in 1971. The concrete is cracked, the filtration and disinfection system isn’t good enough to keep a paddling pool open, the circulation system isn’t the best and there’s a minimum entry of three feet, making it harder for little kids to enjoy the pool.
From Aug. 5 to Sept. 22, people from across the nation were able to submit a story about their project.
The Lanigan pool project had 80 people submit stories.
Judges then took from Sept. 23 to Oct. 11 to determine the final four, with 80 per cent of the decision based on the story of the project, and 20 per cent based on the number of stories, photos, videos, reactions and tweets shared.
The other finalists are a rugby park in Nepean, Ont., a nordic trail lighting project in Salmon Arm, B.C, and a sports park in Saugeen Shores, Ont.
