Installation of fencing between the Mattamy Homes Spray Park and the skate park at Chinook Winds Park is complete, according to Jill Iverson with the City of Airdrie’s Corporate Communications department.
Iverson updated City council at its meeting June 15 on a variety of initiatives undertaken at the park to improve public safety.
As reported in the June 4 edition of the Airdrie City View, fencing was suggested by the Airdrie Board of Youth Affairs (ABYA) and an internal working group as a means of keeping small children off the skate park.
“The fences are in place,” Iverson said. “There’s the iron fence between the skate park and the spray park. There’s a little bit of chain link fence that needs to go in once the last two shade sails and picnic tables are in place.”
The spray park opened June 15.
“I want to commend the detail that was in the report,” Mayor Peter Brown said. “It obviously came from multiple different departments. It doesn’t just address Chinook Winds, it addresses safety at all our parks.”
Airdrie Video
The winner of a competition to produce a video about Airdrie was presented to council June 15. The winning video was produced by Brodyn Thompson, a Grade 12 student at St. Martin de Porres High School.
A total of five entries were received and judged by a panel of four individuals from the local arts scene.
For his efforts, Thompson won a GoPro Hero4 video camera. Michelle Neustaedter won the second prize of a $50 gift card for the Avenue Cakery and Bakeshoppe.
Thompson’s video highlighting what Airdrie means to him can be viewed on airdrie.ca
Avenue Extension
A public hearing on the City’s proposed extension of 40th Avenue east from King’s Heights Way (currently Sharp Hill Way) to Range Road 292 at the June 15 City council meeting was suspended and will be resumed at the July 6 meeting.
According to Senior Planner Stephen Utz, the reason for requesting the suspension of the public hearing was a failure to have the information regarding the date and time of the public hearing run in one of the local newspapers. Suspending the public hearing until the next City council meeting will allow those who missed the June 15 meeting to still have their say.
Council unanimously approved suspending the public hearing until July 6.
New Grants
Council heard from Monica Labait, senior accounting technician with the City’s Financial Services department, about a new source of grant funding being offered by the federal government. The grants are being made available to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017.
The Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program will provide $46.2 million to projects in Western Canada for upgrades to cultural or community facilities.
Labait said staff intended to apply for funding to complete upgrades at Nose Creek park ($1,893,900), restoration of the Iron Bridge at the south end of Edwards Way over Nose Creek ($700,000), and upgrades to the play structure and leisure pool spray features at Genesis Place Recreation Centre ($193,900).
The grant program provides funding of 50 per cent of the cost of a project up to $500,000 and projects must be completed between April 1, 2016, and March 31, 2018.
Council unanimously approved staff’s request to go forward with the grant applications.
In Kind Donation
A request from the Airdrie Rodeo Ranch Association (ARRA) for the donation of water for competitors – human and animals alike — and guests during the Airdrie Pro Rodeo from June 27 to July 1 was unanimously endorsed by council.
Manager of Legislative Services Sharon Pollyck presented council with information from the ARRA. The value of the water to be donated is expected to be between $3,200 and $4,000. Miller Trucking will truck the water to the Airdrie Rodeo Grounds free of charge.
