DIDSBURY - Valarosa Parks Association has received a nearly $100,000 Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) grant from the provincial government and is looking at starting to build a park in the fall, say organizers.
"We've been approved for a CFEP grant for $98,704," said Ben McPhee of the Valarosa Parks Association. "We are now funded enough to start construction this fall. We will continue to look for donations for construction work such as site levelling and landscape restoration."
McPhee said the group received a grant confirmation letter in August and members have been ecstatic.
"We are very excited about getting the grant," he said. "It has made this project come to reality. We have a fair bit of planning to do before we start actual construction."
The park will feature benches, and playground equipment such as swings and spring toys, said McPhee.
"We also have money we have raised and donated in-kind materials as well," he said. "Our next step is to finalize what the structure is going to be. What the final site will look like and begin to get things on order. In the meantime, we'd like to get a contractor in to do some land levelling in preparation."
McPhee said the association won't know the final cost of the project until the design is finalized.
The group is hoping that the park will open in October.
"That might be hopeful," he said. "It depends on how fast the manufacturer can get the equipment to us. I'm hoping by September we're placing orders and mid-September we're on-site doing work."
McPhee said association members are all excited to get a park in the area.
"It's important because Valarosa doesn't have a park for kids to go to," he said. "The closest one is about two kilometres away if you walk and there is no sidewalk or trail connectivity. Plus you have to cross Highway 582, which isn't great for children. So we felt it important to have a safe place for the kids and even the adults to have a meeting place. Hopefully it will help Valarosa grow as well as Didsbury."
