Vets’ park decision now in City’s hands

Chow addressed the committee prior to the vote and outlined the ANAVETS’ plans for the park. It would include murals on adjacent buildings, landscaping, the memorial, and park benches. The total amount of grant funding they are seeking is $100,000. The land itself, which is owned by the City, is worth $42,000.

The ANAVETS plan to erect flagpoles in the park, and the flags will be lowered when a local veteran dies.

“As [the] years go on, we’re losing many of these veterans from both World War One and World War Two due to age. And in fact, we lost one of our most decorated veterans just last week,” Chow told the committee.

“This park would be a tribute to him and many others who have fallen, defending and protecting Canada.”

As well, the park is also for the local firefighters, police officers, corrections officers who risk their lives, Chow said.

She acknowledged the fact the City does have a monument in Memorial Square – located in front of City Hall. But she said the ANAVETS are unable to lower the flags there in honour of the veterans that are lost.

Coun. Rick Orr voiced his support for the project, and said he hopes, when it comes to planning, the City can work with merchants downtown to come up with a plan that works.

For Coun. Charlene Miller, the memorial park would be a “nice touch” for downtown.

But Coun. Lee Atkinson suggested the City adds to Memorial Square.

“[It] might be more appropriate to do something with Memorial Square and make it more becoming rather than doing another location,” he said.

There’s also the question of whether the property is more valuable as a park or possibly a future commercial enterprise, Atkinson added. He said the property was used for commercial purposes before there was a fire in the building.

He said he would like to see Memorial Square “embellished”.

“And whether there’s an opportunity to do that collectively so that it’s a central, cohesive recognition, and if that involves another flagpole in the set that’s contemplated (in Memorial Square), where one has the abilities to control that, I think the concentration of that and the amenities that could be included in Memorial Square would be more beneficial than another one across the street.”

Chow’s view of Memorial Square, however, is that it’s “cold”. As well, the ANAVETS are unable to lower the flags in the square.

“If we can work with the City hand in hand, and they say ‘yes, you know, you have access to the flags’ or ‘call us, and we’ll lower the flags’, and if they would allow us to bring some benches in and some flower gardens, and turn our memorial here into something a little more greener, that would be amazing.”

But Atkinson isn’t the only one torn about the future of the veterans’ memorial park.

Chow told the committee that the Prince Albert Downtown Business Improvement District (PABID) could not give its support for the proposal. She said this is because half of the association would like to see the land turned into a memorial park, while the other half would like to see it become a children’s playground.

“So, they’re very torn on which way, but they do want to keep it green,” Chow said afterwards. “So, I’m happy to see that.”

tjames@panow.com

On Twitter: @thiajames

by Thia James

Vets’ park decision now in City’s hands

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