LAC LA BICHE - Heated debates and discussions have been ongoing for months since Lac La Biche County officials approved a new plan for the future use of McArthur Park. The debate continued into late November.
Since April 6 of this year, when Lac La Biche County Council approved the concept of a five-year revitalization plan for McArthur Park, the issue has raised concerns.
Initially, the decision to remove the main baseball diamonds from the new plan, replacing the area with walking trails, grass-covered sitting areas and a more leisure-like usage opposed to an active sport environment, created opposition. And while that debate continues, more recent questions have arisen over the approved plan as more details of the project come to light.
Last week, Lac La Biche County councillors heard a new skatepark and bicycle pump-track circuit in the new park update will only be suitable for younger children.
At a cost of approximately $300,000 for construction, the two features would be suited to children between the ages of five and 10, said the municipality’s associate CAO of Recreation and Community Services Darrell Lessmeister.
That’s not what was intended, said Coun. Lorin Tkachuk.
“I was never aware that it would be for ages five to 10. Even in our discussions, when we said we wanted to attract high school students… I would absolutely not be in favour of us building any sort of skateboard park for $200,000 or the pump track for $100,000. I think that would be a complete miss on our part and we would totally be missing the boat.”
Lessmeister said according to surveys, consultations and other data collected, the age range fits with the demographics of the anticipated user groups.
The use of County dollars to serve the young age group, said Lessmeister, is due to a calculated response of the amenities' potential usage.
“We see smaller kids and families being in there versus, more so, than teenagers.”
Those consultations have been taking place for over a year and were ongoing until the late summer months. Part of the process involved a community survey that saw the majority of 300 residents say they would like to see more leisure-focused activities for young families in the recreation space.
With the concept of the project approved by councillors several months ago, and plans to begin the first phases of the area’s recreation master plan next year, Lessmeister was hoping to have the plan approved by council last week.
The roughly five-year, $4.6 million project intends to spend $900,00 each year beginning in 2022, Lessmeister said, adding that a schedule of projects within the plan has to be finalized.
“We are coming up with a plan. What makes more sense to do first and what makes more sense to do at a later date, because there are certain things that need to get done,” he said.
More time needed
Despite the urgency, council and administration agreed that more time is needed to finalize some of the plan’s components. As well, new councillors without some of the history of the McArthur Park Master Plan will have to be brought up to speed on the project. Some of the new council members have already expressed their concerns that despite the months of consultation, not enough community input has taken place on the project to transform the 12 acres of downtown recreation property
Revisions to the document will be made and presented back to council in the coming months.
