Cold Lake City Council has officially taken a step toward welcoming a new recreational amenity to Kinosoo Beach.
During their April 22 regular meeting, Council voted to accept a presentation by Cold Lake Splash Park Inc. as information and directed administration to issue a Letter of Understanding that will allow the company to operate on a designated portion of municipal property at Kinosoo Beach for the 2025 season, at no cost, pending several conditions.
The decision follows a delegation on April 8, 2025, by Harrison Fallow and Courtney Rande, co-founders of Cold Lake Splash Park Inc., who presented their plan to bring a floating inflatable water park to the city's waterfront.
The park is proposed for the east side of Kinosoo Beach, outside the public swim area and near the City’s water treatment plant, using a roughly 20-foot by 20-foot section of beachfront for a vendor shack and check-in kiosk. The water structure itself would span approximately 52 meters by 27 meters with a maximum height of 3 meters and would accommodate up to 150 participants at a time, with the possibility of expansion, according to information provided to the council.
Features include slides, obstacle courses, floating walkways, and structures designed for ages six and up. The co-founders also plan to add a toddler-friendly park in future years.
CAO Kevin Nagoya clarified the city’s role in the approval process, “The scope of this project is in essence limited to the City of Cold Lake’s jurisdiction of approval of basically the beach, right, where the city owns it.”
He adds that the city could not grant permission over the water itself, as it falls outside of the city’s jurisdiction. “All we’re doing here is the city is giving basically acknowledgement and consent that we do not object for something to be erected into the water...which is actually in the municipal boundaries of the Municipal District of Bonnyville.”
Council discussions on April 22 focused heavily on liability and logistical concerns. Coun. Chris Vining raised questions about the water park’s overnight presence on the water.
“My question is, what becomes our liability level after hours in the middle of the night if folks are out there on this thing and somebody were to get hurt or worse?” Vining asked. “And then...if something were to become unmoored and it were to push up onto shore and do damage to stuff that we’ve installed…would their insurance then be responsible?”
Nagoya addressed these concerns, stating, “There’s going to be an obligation for this vendor to have an insurance…because they’re going to be on a City of Cold Lake owned property.” He also noted that the inflatables would be “screw piled in” and “designed for some pretty heavy winds.”
Council was also reassured about safety and security. “During the presentation, Chris, they did say that they will be monitoring that and they are aware that people may want to go for a run in the middle of the night,” said Mayor Craig Copeland.
Coun. Vicky Lefebvre confirmed, “They did mention that they would get security because they understand people may want to utilize it after hours, and it could pose a liability for themselves as well.”
The proposal also includes a 10x10-foot ticketing kiosk, onsite storage for life jackets and safety equipment, and bird cannons to manage avian interference. The initial investment for the company is estimated at $180,000 to $210,000. Admission is expected to be $28 plus GST, with group rates and discounts for residents, according to the City agenda.
Cold Lake Splash Park Inc. plans to operate from the second week of June through Labor Day, with extended hours on weekends and holidays. They have committed to regular maintenance and are open to discussions with the City on improving accessibility at the beach site.
The Council made a motion to accept the delegation as information and direct administration to issue a Letter of Understanding allowing Cold Lake Splash Park Inc. to operate on available municipal land at Kinosoo Beach at no cost for 2025, subject to required permits, insurance, approvals, no City services or exclusivity, and the City’s right to revoke at any time.
