The Sharp Hills Preservation Society (SHPS) received just less than $4,000 to go towards trees and signage for municipal reserve lands in Sharp Hills, located just south of Airdrie city limits, Nov. 6.
Council granted $3,925 of public reserve money to provide the society with half of the cost to complete phase one of the planned makeover. The organization is expecting to fundraise for the remainder.
“We are happy to be able to support the SHPS with their enhancement project,” said Reeve Rolly Ashdown. “It is very exciting to be able to help them begin with phase one of their plan.”
Dan Giercke SHPS president, said the society has already hosted a few fundraising events including a fall supper last month, bottle drives and a silent auction.
A group of residents came together in 2009 to preserve and enhance the natural beauty of the 22 acres of municipal reserve land in Sharp Hill. The SHPS has completed 900 volunteer hours and held several community information sessions to gather input from local residents and the greater community.
About 300 people live in Sharp Hill, while another 100 Rocky View residents and 1,000 Airdrie citizens border the area.
The money will be used to install signage at the community’s south entrance and plant 200 trees on the municipal reserve land.
Giercke said the SHPS hoped to erect the sign this fall but because of the weather, they may have to wait until spring when they plant the trees. Volunteers are expected to put in 270 hours to prepare the lands and plant the trees.
Future phases will include parking, a cookhouse shelter, fitness equipment, toboggan hill, all seasons sports court and a toboggan hill. Giercke said the group’s priority is getting the trees planted and installing some pathways. He said any future upgrades will be determined by how much use the space gets from the public once phase one is completed.
