The dream of a small but enthusiastic group in Bowden to build a new park for their community is on the verge of becoming reality.
The dream of a small but enthusiastic group in Bowden to build a new park for their community is on the verge of becoming reality.
In the last year, the Bowden Recreation and Culture Board and the Bowden Agricultural Society teamed up to form the Community Action Park committee, whose aim is to build a community-inclusive park in a 2,800-square-metre green space located near the intersection of 22 Avenue and 21 Street.
In April, Bowden council agreed to designate the green space for the park—originally planned as a skateboard park—and in July, the committee received news that a Canadian volunteer organization that helps communities build playgrounds is bestowing an award upon Bowden where the organization will match every dollar the community raises for the purpose of buying park equipment.
Members of Bowden council and the CAP committee asked the Olds Albertan not to disclose the name of the organization since it plans to make a large announcement about the monetary award in Bowden on Sept. 5.
The Albertan agreed in the interest of not interfering with the agreement between the committee and the organization.
Roughly 20 members of the committee appeared before Bowden council at its Aug. 26 meeting to update the town on its efforts and council unanimously passed a motion where it put its full support behind the committee’s plans.
Committee member Beth Kuntz told council that along with the financial support, the organization will provide design and construction support to the committee in the planning stages and volunteers from the organization will come out to help on Oct. 26, the date the committee intends to build the new park.
With the support of the organization, Kuntz told council, the committee was able to expand its vision beyond just a skateboard park to include an outdoor skating rink, a gazebo and a family area.
"We have also left space for future projects such as a splash park, outdoor fitness area or horseshoe pits," she said.
With the organization’s award come stipulations that the committee has to complete the park project by the end of the year, hence the Oct. 19 build date, and the park must be dedicated to a "fallen hero."
"This can be a war hero, a first responder or a local hero," Kuntz said.
The committee also has to establish a plan for future maintenance of the park, she added, and so is in the process of registering the committee as a society to oversee the park’s future development and for fundraising.
Despite the enthusiasm from the committee and council, a handful of residents have expressed concerns about the park concept, partly based on fears young people will misuse it.
Mayor Robb Stuart told the gathering he has heard talk of a petition based on these concerns.
If such a petition received enough names and was submitted to the province, plans to complete the park before the end of the year could be jeopardized.
"We do not want that to happen," he said. "Because then once it goes to (Alberta) Municipal Affairs, everything comes to a standstill."
Committee members said they have approached residents near the proposed park space to discuss their concerns and some of those residents expressed support for the park concept once they learned it would not be limited to just a skateboard park.
"I think the biggest thing that we did wrong initially is everyone got pumped on the word skateboard park," said committee member Abby Gamble. "That’s our fault. Our intention wasn’t solely for the skateboard park."
Since the committee is made up of people from a wide range of ages including children and teenagers—another stipulation from the organization— committee chair Keith Bailey said he believes any concerns about young people using the park inappropriately are unfounded.
"I think with the youths having to be part of it and build it themselves, they’ll have a lot more respect for it," he said.
Coun. Wayne Milaney asked the committee about the logistics of completing construction on the various aspects of the park prior to the ground freezing in winter and Bailey said the committee will carry out as much preparation work as possible prior to Oct. 19.
Coun. Sheila Church, who is also a committee member, added concrete for various structures will be poured on Sept. 30.
Bailey also said one of the other stipulations of the organization’s award is that at least 150 volunteers come out on Oct. 19 for the build, so there will be plenty of labour.
Since the committee is raising funds on its own without taxpayer help, a partnership with the town is essential for tax relief and GST receipts, Church said.
Overall, the committee wants the park to be accessible to as many people as possible and that’s why the group decided to incorporate elements such as a gazebo and potential areas for horseshoes or bocce ball to appeal to older residents, said committee member Pat Filipenko.
"We want this to be totally community accessible. It’s going to be used by everybody."
The official announcement for the award will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 5 at the Bowden Grandview School.
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