OkotoksOnline/Harrison O'Nyons
A new water feature was unveiled at Okotoks' Arts and Learning Campus on Wednesday (July 24).
The interactive addition to Ethel Tucker Park was welcomed with a grand opening ceremony hosted by the Town of Okotoks, where the family behind the feature was introduced.
The water feature was made possible through a philanthropic donation from the Robert R. Hartley and Lillian P. Hartley Foundation.
Lillian Hartley approached the Town in 2020, offering a $1 million donation to support the Arts and Learning Campus.
Though Lillian passed away in 2024, and Robert in 2008, their legacy lives on through this contribution to the community.
The feature was officially named The Hartley Hub.
"Robert and Lillian Hartley's gift to our town is more than a donation, it's a lasting expression of community spirit," said Okotoks Mayor Tanya Thorn at the ceremony. "It's the kind of giving that doesn't just improve a place, it transforms it. Their love for Okotoks, for people, and for the outdoors shines through in every drop of water in that path. They believe deeply in building spaces where everyone feels welcome, and they believe now, and that belief now lives on in this vibrant, joyful space we're going to proudly call the Hartley Hub."
Members of the Hartley family attended the ceremony and cut a ribbon to declare the Hartley Hub officially open.
Left to right: Lucy Landeryou, Mayor Tanya Thorn, Lorrie Hartley, John Hartley, Sarah Landeryou, and Jesse Landeryou.
The feature includes several spouts that spray water in all directions, activated by a single central button.
It uses a water recycling system similar to the one at the Okotoks Spray Park.
"While it may look like pure fun, which it is, the Hartley Hub also reflects our commitment to sustainability," said Thorn. "It features a water recycling system that treats and reuses water, helping us play responsibly while supporting our environmental goals. I like to think that if Ethel Tucker and Bob and Lily and Hartley were standing here today, they'd be smiling, seeing their shared legacy of connection and care continue to carry forward in such a meaningful way for generations to come."
Like the spray park, the Hartley Hub will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. between the May and September long weekends, as long as the temperature is above 20 degrees.