Work on Phase Two of the $7.3 million McArthur Park Revitalization Project is underway, with much of the construction expected to be completed over the next few months.
Recently, contractors began constructing a new pier on the lakeshore area of the park. Large cranes and equipment have been busy along the lakeshore installing the framework of the structure that juts out more than 50 feet into the waters of Lac La Biche Lake.
According to Jihad Moghrabi, a spokesperson for Lac La Biche County, the new pier – which will be a permanent structure that overlooks Lac La Biche Lake – will feature seating, and nighttime lighting. This work is anticipated to be done over the course of a few weeks to a month.
“The pier on the waterfront is expected to take about three to four weeks to complete,” Moghrabi told the Lac La Biche Post on May 22.
Further down the waterfront at the end of 99 Street, there will be a seasonal dock for public access to McArthur Park by water, and for day use to launch paddle boats. On Wednesday, crews were busy constructing the dock, using a Toolcat utility work machine to place the individual segments into the water before attaching them together.
Moghrabi added that the seasonal dock will be installed this week and should be open to the public by the end of May.
In addition to this work, other projects planned for this season, Moghrabi explained, include grading the large open park area, which will have a new paved trail with nighttime lighting, trees, seating areas, and an open grass play space. This area is in the section of McArthur Park bordering 101 Street and 101 Ave (Main Street).
“Construction on that area has already started, and we anticipate the site will be ready for public use this fall,” he said.
The pier, along with the landscaping improvements for Phase Two development are being done by OSD Group Inc. which is based out of Stony Plain.
Moghrabi said the final feature to be constructed in the local park is the new bike pump track and skateboard park, for which construction is scheduled to get underway in the first week of June. These features are expected to be completed by the August long weekend.
Phase three, which is expected to begin in May 2025 and finish that fall, will be the final phase, after which time the McArthur Park Revitalization Project will complete.
