Legacy for all to enjoy
Premier on hand for official opening of Legacy Regional Park
“You didn't just create a park, you created a legacy to hand down to generations of Albertans.”
Here to celebrate the opening of a 73-acre regional park, Premier Rachel Notley praised Lethbridge citizens and officials Thursday.
“Cities are about more than people, roads and buildings,” the premier said, before helping cut the ceremonial ribbon to declare Legacy Regional Park open. “Lethbridge has a rich array of public spaces,” and Notley said that’s a key to building a sense of community.
The multi-faceted park “is truly built for everyone to enjoy,” she pointed out.
“It’s a long-awaited day for Lethbridge,” observed Mayor Chris Spearman — capping 10 years of planning, consultation and construction.
“Not only have we provided a major park for residents,” he said, but “the park’s design will attract visitors from all over southern Alberta.”
Spearman introduced and thanked former mayors Bob Tarleck and Rajko Dodic, along with past and current members of council, for their ongoing support of the project.
Coun. Joe Mauro, who successfully called for the park size to be increased to 73 acres, did not take part in the opening. The mayor was joined for the occasion by Coun. Jeff Carlson, Belinda Crowson, Blaine Hyggen, Rob Miyashiro and Ryan Parker.
The park could not have been built without financial backing from the provincial government’s Municipal Sustainability Initiative, the mayor said. More than half of its $22.6-million planning and construction cost was covered by those per-capita grants.
Turning to the premier, Spearman stressed how important it is for communities to know that the funding program will continue.
“This fabulous new regional park is another example of how we can improve our community with the support of the government” through that program, he said. In Lethbridge, he noted, it’s also helped with upgrades to such basics as water treatment and fire protection facilities.
But Lethbridge residents played a vital role as well, stressed Parks manager David Ellis. For nearly a decade, they’ve been providing suggestions for park features, feedback on plans, even financial support.
“I’m as giddy as a child on Christmas morning,” Ellis said, outlining all the features included in the first phase of the park, with more to come.
The city’s first outdoor challenge obstacle course, a year-round fitness pod, an outdoor performance stage, courts for basketball, tennis and pickleball, fields for soccer and baseball, and features for ice skating and tobogganing in winter are all included.
So are running paths, picnic sites, children’s playgrounds, a boardwalk along a pond, and a large skateboard park designed in collaboration with the Lethbridge Skateboard Association.
Legacy is “the first park in our city that was designed and named by our residents,” Ellis said. “It really is a park created by the people, for the people.”
The Vasa Lodge donated $179,000 to create the city’s first amphitheatre, he added, and the Lethbridge Horticultural Society is contributing more than $100,000 in time and money to develop formal gardens in the park’s northwest corner.
More irrigation and landscaping work remains to be finished for this first phase, but Ellis said construction will begin next year on a community pavilion — to be available for special occasions year round — as well as a spray park for children. A discovery play area, more picnic sites, more washrooms and more parking will also be provided in the next phase.
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