The ink is hardly dry on the agreement to turn over the Sylvan Lake Provincial Park to the town and improvements are already in the works.
Town council voted recently to spend up to $200,000 paving the 850-metre red shale path through the lakeshore park.
Other work will include replacing signs, landscaping, grade improvements and sod repairs.
The province sealed the deal to transfer ownership of the provincial park to the town in January. As part of the deal, the Alberta government provided nearly $2 million for future upkeep and maintenance.
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The upgrades are only the first phase of what is expected to be a major redevelopment of the park and connected lakeshore areas through a project the town has dubbed Reimagine Sylvan Lake.
Joanne Gaudet said a number of trees uprooted in last spring’s windstorm will be replaced at the same time as the trail gets badly needed work.
“The shale trail through there is kind of a mess,” she said. “The condition it is in now is by no means up to the quality and the standard we would expect.
“It’s constantly under water in any rainstorm or any windstorm if the waves get up enough.
“It’s often muddy, unappealing, unattractive, not exactly great for someone pulling a little wagon or something behind them.”
Gaudet said the own hopes to get the work done with minimal disruption and have it ready for high season in July and August.
Reimagine Sylvan was kicked off during the town’s Winterfest last month.
The goal is getting the community involved in creating a vision for the waterfront through a sustainable waterfront redevelopment plan.
The town hopes to draw people to underused spaces and inspire more year-round activity. An online survey has been posted on the town’s website at www.sylvanlake.ca
Town staff will be at various community events promoting the redevelopment plan and a community design workshop is set for May 10-12.
pcowley@reddeeradvocate.com
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