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Lions host tourney for kids water park

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Asylum’s Stephanie McCarty taps out a bunt in slow-pitch action last weekend. The tourney was a fundraiser for the Ponoka splash park.

By Dale Cory

The game was slow-pitch. It was a three-day ball tournament geared toward adult recreational purposes.

However, the money raised will mainly benefit of children — and likely a few overheated parents — for many years to come.

The Ponoka Lions Club held its second annual mixed slow-pitch tournament last weekend. Considering the temperature, the beer gardens came in quite handy for players and fans.

Sitting alongside the orange fencing that separated minors from a cold one was a sandwich board promoting the following: Ponoka Splash Park coming soon!!

It was the reason members of the Lions Club were camped out at the Ponoka sports park for a long, hot weekend, watching as adults took the ball field for a worthy cause — helping Ponoka’s youth cool down on these hot summer days.

“It’s beautiful — the perfect weekend after a lot of rain,” said Lions Club secretary Barry Neath while taking in some of Saturday’s action.

Neath was hunkered down in the beer garden tent — enjoying a rare moment of shade while collecting entry fees for those teams involved.

The tournament grew from 12 teams the first year to 16 teams in 2011. Neath had expected 18 to 20 until a few no-shows on game day, but still expects the Lions Club to turn over a decent amount of money to the Ponoka Splash Park committee.

“I think we’ll probably do between $2,500 to $3,000 after expenses are all done.”

That money came from team entry fees, 50/50 draws, raffle draws, and of course, the beer gardens. Considering the perfect conditions for slow-pitch last weekend, the Ponoka Lions may be able to turn over an even larger amount when all the funds come into the club.

“The Lions have committed Lions host tourney for kids water park $50,000 to the splash park. The grand total (to build the park) is about $450,000,” explained Neath, adding that other service clubs such as the Kinsmen ($50,000) and Kinettes ($25,000) are also involved in the fundraising. “We’re getting closer every day. We’re hoping to start construction next spring.”

The Lions Club expected to be three-quarters of the way toward its fundraising commitment after the funds are totalled up from the weekend.

Neath says the Ponoka splash park committee is waiting for a $125,000 grant from the lottery corporation. He estimates the fundraising effort, which has been ongoing for a couple of years, will be within $25,000 of its $450,000 intended target once that grant money is obtained.

And, once the money is in place ...

“We’ll break ground,” summarized Neath. “We’ve got to.”

The splash park will be located in Centennial Park along Highway 2A for the enjoyment of town and county residents and visitors to Ponoka. The splash park will feature a re-circulating system using chlorination and filters to provide good use of the potable water supply.

For further information, or to offer your financial help, call Barry Neath at 403-783-7410.