SUNDRE — Residents are invited to join the process to help create a development plan for a large parcel of land that boasts potential as a year-round campground featuring a variety of recreational amenities.
Late last year, the municipality acquired the 37.5 acres — located on the south side of Highway 27 on the east side of town — and council earlier in March hired a consultant to help conduct extensive community consultation with the goal of delivering what people and stakeholders would like to see.
The East Campground and Passive Use Recreation Plan is in its conceptual stage, with the final proposed plan to be presented to the public in the coming months, fortified by stakeholder engagement ideas for the use of the land.
To that end, the town recently issued a survey that is available on the municipal website’s homepage and will also be distributed in the monthly utility bills. Additionally, paper copies are available at the town’s office.
Since the town office has been renovated to include barriers at the front counter as well as a hand sanitizing station upon entering, people are welcome to drop in at their convenience, said Linda Nelson, chief administrative officer.
“We haven’t really restricted access,” she said, adding, “It’s not like we have big lineups.”
That being said, she added that while people are welcome to stop in during regular hours, they are asked to ensure there’s only one person at a time in the reception area.
Those who are inclined to submit ideas or feedback by way of filling out the survey have until Friday, May 14, she said.
The municipality wants to engage not only with residents, but also other community stakeholders including but certainly not limited to organizations such as Greenwood Neighbourhood Place, the Sundre Bike ’n’ Ski Club, local youth and students, as well as seniors.
Submitted ideas and feedback will help guide the municipality’s hand in developing a preliminary concept plan, which once drafted will be followed by further presentations to the public hosted by the town with assistance from the consultants. At that point, anyone who was not able to complete the survey or otherwise participate in the process to date, will have an opportunity to see the draft design and ask questions or offer suggestions.
“Nothing is written in stone,” said Betty Ann Fountain, senior development officer and special projects coordinator.
Ideas and input obtained during the public open house will further help determine a course of action on future plans for the recreational land.
For now, administration hopes to receive enough feedback through the survey — which was specifically designed to be short and concise using simple language to ensure maximum participation with the objective of trying to determine what people would like to see done with the land — to begin drafting conceptual design plans.
“We want as much input as we can get,” said Nelson.
That process will also involve a sort of triage to determine which ideas are the most popular and should therefore be considered priorities.
“We’re really excited, this is a good project for the entire community,” said Nelson.
