Irricana council turned down a request to sign a lease to facilitate a Lion’s Club centennial park in a tie vote at its meeting, June 20.
The move raised the ire of a group of residents in attendance and left the future of the park, proposed to be located on about three acres of Alberta TrailNet-owned land on the town’s west side, at risk.
“I wasn’t overly shocked,” said Lion’s Club member and centennial board chair Brian Culp, who made the presentation to council. “But we thought that with the details and what was at stake and the public participation that we had a chance.”
The park was to be placed at the trailhead of the Irricana-Beiseker pathway, recently rejected by Rocky View County council, on land where Irricana’s grain elevators once stood.
The design includes a child’s play structure reflecting the town’s historical background; a booth including historical facts, tourist maps, information about the park and upcoming local events; asphalt trails and picnic areas. Future plans include an amphitheatre.
Lion’s Club members have been working on the project for about three years and have secured about $300,000 in federal and provincial grant funding to cover a large portion of construction costs.
Culp said despite council’s decision, the Lion’s Club plans to go ahead with the project and will be seeking donations of time, material and cash for the park, which he expects to be up and running next summer.
“(We feel) disappointment that we couldn’t work with the municipal council to do this together, even after we have had such great support from the previous council and administration and residents. But we are pleased that they made a decision so we can move forward on our own,” said Culp.
Culp said the organization has already started negotiations with TrailNet to lease the land directly.
“The Lion’s Club may sign the agreement itself,” he said.
Irricana Mayor Josh Taylor and councillor Lisa Constantini voted in favour of the proposal. Taylor expressed frustration at the outcome.
“I can’t believe it,” he said. “In my opinion, it was a very bad decision on council’s part. I see no way anyone is winning by not having it there.”
Taylor said the issue spurred an unprecedented 40 residents to attend the council meeting, the majority of whom were in favour of the park.
“The courtroom was packed,” he said. “I have never seen this in the three years I have been on council.”
Councillors Andrew Carr and Frank Dusome voted in opposition to the project, enough to kill the motion as Councillor Larry Martin abstained from the vote due to a potential conflict of interest.
Carr said the location for the park was less than ideal, citing safety concerns regarding the adjacent train tracks and road.
“I would rather see parks nestled in areas where there is a little more security,” he said.
Carr also raised concerns about the Town’s liability and its potential maintenance costs.
He is also leery of signing this agreement with TrailNet, which he says could see the Town’s money wasted should the non-profit organization decide to sell the land or go bankrupt.
“I feel we are being railroaded on this,” he said. “It raises red flags. I am not prepared to support TrailNet right now, there are too many things that leave me uncomfortable. I am not against the park, but I am not prepared to rush any deals.”
Twenty-one year resident and Lion’s Club member Sid Gough said the location for the park would have been ideal.
“It would have been an excellent place to visit and see a view of the Rocky Mountains,” he said.
Gough said many Irricana residents were angered by the decision.
“There are a lot of people quite upset with it,” he said. “It was going to add considerably to the town.”
