Skip to content

Input sought on spray park concept designs

Red Deerians have until Tuesday to give their views on one of three concept designs for a spray park budgeted at $1 million and planned for the northwest corner of Rotary Recreation Park.

Red Deerians have until Tuesday to give their views on one of three concept designs for a spray park budgeted at $1 million and planned for the northwest corner of Rotary Recreation Park.

People can fill out a survey at http://www.reddeer.ca/City+Projects/Projects+and+Initiatives/Spray+Park.htm.

Feedback can also be given through the City of Red Deer’s social media Facebook site.

The three concepts will be narrowed down to a preferred concept following public input on the park that is planned in honour of the City of Red Deer’s Centennial in 2013.

It will be located at the intersection of 47A Avenue and 48th Street.

City of Red Deer project manager Jerry Hedlund said he didn’t see the feedback from Tuesday’s public open house, but he believes that the third concept, which shows the concrete basin meandering like the Red Deer River, may have been the most popular.

The first concept is like an amoeba shape while the second is circular.

“Each one has different components that reflect the unique qualities of Red Deer,” said Hedlund.

The first option features the Red Deer water tower, the second features the Red Deer train bridge, and the third one has no direct feature but the whole feature is that of the Red Deer River meandering through the town.

“We could end up selecting the pad (concept three) and putting the water tower on it,” said Hedlund.

Hedlund said the park could run around 7,500 square feet in the recreational area near the speed skating oval and the Golden Circle.

But it will depend on whether this square footage can be met with the 2012 and 2013 budgets.

The project is a design-build, which means that a variety of businesses make up a team to get it done.

ISL Engineering and Land Services is doing the architectural piece, while Timcon Construction, Calgary and Edmonton-based PlayWorks and Kelowna’s Waterplay are also on board.

It’s hoped the preferred concept will be chosen within the next two weeks. More detailed drawings would follow.

Hedlund said construction could then get underway in mid-September, with opening slated next June.

There’s also a parking concept plan that people can see online.

Hedlund said it would involve removing staff parking on the north end of the lot at Golden Circle so that more public parking is on hand.

ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com