It's been a successful winter of fund raising for the Carman Splash Pad Committee.

Co-Chair Nicky Spencer says the streak started with a social evening in November that raised $34,000 for the project followed by a $20,000 donation from Arthur Lepp at Greenland Equipment. "That's was just so incredible of him." The Kinsmen and Kinettes then donated $50,000 to the effort.

Spencer adds then a big donation of $100,000 came in from Darren and Joanne Gunn. "Joanne is formerly from Carman but they don't even live in the area anymore but they had heard about (the project) and just thought it was such an incredible thing."

"I can't even begin to describe how amazing the community has been," she added.

The group is now over halfway to meeting its $400,000 fund raising mark and Spencer says this means the timeline of the project has been moved up with hopes of breaking ground this spring.

"We are meeting with and emailing back-and-forth with three different companies, getting the plans."

It has also been decided that the splash pad will be built next to the outdoor volleyball courts in Kings Park near the Dufferin Historical Museum.

As for what's next, Spencer says they are just entering the grant application period and hope a few of those will come through to help pay for the project.