Didsbury's new $6.1 million North Industrial Wetlands Park is officially open.
Amidst a throng of schoolchildren, clowns, artists, community leaders and politicians from all three levels of government, the new seven-acre wetland and storm water treatment facility was unveiled to the public during a lavish grand opening and news conference on Sept. 13.
“Didsbury has shown leadership again. This is going to be a great place for the community,” said Richard Marz, provincial MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, at the grand opening. “These wetlands will not only help clean up runoff water they will have the opportunity for the public to relax and check out the wildlife.”
The naturalized wetlands park in the north end of 16th Street past Memorial Park was a three-way funded project between the Town of Didsbury, the Government of Alberta and Government of Canada, with each partner contributing more than $2 million.
“There are a number of benefits, including recreational opportunities, environmental improvements. It is obviously a great benefit to the community,” said Blake Richards, Wild Rose MP on behalf of Lynne Yelich, minister of state for western economic diversification.
Didsbury Mayor Brian Wittal added it was a project the entire community can be proud of.
“We are going above and beyond Alberta Environment's guidelines,” he said.
The project was first conceived three years ago, and was then broken down into three phases.
Construction on the first phase began in June, 2010 with the creation of the naturalized wetlands and the building of a 1,500-metre pathway, which increases the town's total paved system by 50 per cent. Didsbury now has almost 3,000 metres of paved pathways.
“It is set up so future developments in the area will be able to tie into the pathways,” said Garnet Dawes, of ISL Engineering and Land Services, the firm retained by the town to conduct the detailed design and hydraulic modelling for the new wetlands park.
The first phase also included the construction of observation boardwalks along the pathway adjacent to the wetland area, and the installation of the initial storm water piping system.
“The goal of the system is to manage the overall release rate of storm water flows and provide quality treatment before it is discharged into the Rosebud River,” said Dawes. “The interesting thing is that while this is for the community you are also solving environmental problems that had to be solved. While you are addressing things from a functional point of view you are also creating functional space. You are getting that added value.”
Phase II of the project is in its final completion stage and includes the installation of the remaining storm water piping system, curb and gutter installation, road and pathway paving, as well as initial landscaping and plantings.
Phase III will see the completion of the landscaping and plantings. It will be completed next year.
Dawes said the vegetation for the project was selected for biodiversity and survivability, with a goal of attracting a wide range of water fowl, amphibians and insects.
He said the water from the ponds will ultimately be tested monthly. The results will then be submitted to Alberta Environment.
“This is to ensure we are meeting water quality objectives,” said Dawes of the results being passed to the provincial government. “By testing we will see if we are meeting those objectives.”
