The town held a public open house Oct. 24 to display updated plans for Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the downtown revitalization project.
The presentation, mounted in association with Parkland Community Planning Services, was held at the library building and gave community members the opportunity to get a sense of what the biggest public project over the next two years will entail.
“It's hard to wrap your mind around it when you're just talking about it,” said Dan Merkley, owner of Innisfail Subway. “This is easier to visualize.”
The businessman was excited to have a look at the conceptual drawings, because he got a first-hand view of just how pronounced the effects of downtown renos are on his company.
He particularly remembers the day Main Street opened this year at the end of Phase 1.
“It was like someone flipped a switch,” he said. “It changed our sales for the week.”
Merkley was pleasantly surprised to see plans called for the 49 Avenue intersection to be completed rapidly.
“They hope to do it in 35 days,” he said. “They'll have at least some traffic flow.”
While there were issues that came up with the cement contractor, he said, concerns were ironed out satisfactorily, he said.
“They were all very good to work with,” he said. “I have to give them all full marks.”
Denise Lester, a local business owner and property manager poured over the plans eagerly.
“I was kind of wanting to see the new plan,” she said. “It looks beautiful, as long as it works.”
She may not be the biggest fan of the “bulbs” and “bump-outs” that extend the roadside area, but she likes what's been done so far.
“The whole idea is a new concept,” she said. “Change is always difficult.”
Eric Sanford, senior project manager with Tagish Engineering, said when Innisfail decided to do sewer it was the perfect time to take the downtown core to the next level.
“If we're gonna replace that we're gonna lose the road,” he said. “So the town said, ‘Let's make it snazzy.'”
The plan is to set the town up for long-term growth, he added.
“Hopefully it will help attract some business to downtown,” he said. “Keep in mind, we're doing this now but this is going to last a long time.”
Barry Gonnelly, a landscape architect with L.A. West, said the sunrise/sunset motif that is incorporated throughout the project was chosen to embody the Innisfail logo on town streets.
“It's got its own image, identities and characteristics,” he said.
It was also important to balance fancy elements with the practicalities of maintenance, he added.
“It's gotta last the test of time,” he said. “It can't be a burden on the tax base.”
Elm trees were chosen because of their hearty nature, and will grow up and away from storefronts. There is an irrigation system beneath the sidewalk and electrical outlets will provide convenient power sources along Main Street.
