Construction on a controversial splash pad is finally under way in Sault Ste. Marie.

Ground was broken Thursday for the new splash pad at Bellevue Park.  

It will take six weeks to build.

With a projected cost of just over half-a-million dollars, the city is paying about $350,000 of that.

This project has been talked about within the community for the past five years.

Paul Christian is a member of the Sault Ste. Marie splash pad committee.

"Sault Ste. Marie has to be a place we live in, it's something we have to take pride in, if we don't have pride in our own community we can't expect other people to come here, live here or promote Sault Ste. Marie, as a place to live.” said Christian.

David Shier is the President of Kiwanis Club of Lakeshore Foundation.

"Look at all the different projects that we're involved in in the Sault already. And we thought this was perfect, it's for kids, it's for families. We say it’s for the young at heart. It's just the perfect thing to get involved in." said Shier.

The local Kiwanis Clubs have donated $85,000 to the project and the remainder has come from private donations.