(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Dawson Thompson

Future Plans

Council approves plans for upgrades at Little Red River Park

Jul 20, 2021 | 8:00 AM

A priority list to add a few improvements to Little Red River Park has been unanimously approved by city council at yesterday’s executive meeting.

In 2020 the park had quite a few accomplishments, Tim Yeaman, parks and open space manager for the City of Prince Albert said at the meeting.

“We were able to get a contractor in place for the Cosmo Lodge,” Yeaman said. “The parks department took over the full responsibility of the day-to-day maintenance within the park. We also made improvements to walking trails and the ski hill.”

The department also had a bike skills park approved by council that is partnered with the Rock ‘N’ Road Cycling Club.

The 2021 priorities include the development of a formal agreement with the Rotary Club for the Adventure Park and the beginning of installing a pedestrian bridge at the north-west end of the sliding hill parking lot.

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Priorities in 2022 include the construction of the Rotary Adventure Park and Zip Line in the spring of 2022. Parking improvements in the park are also a priority. Sixty-six stalls will be added at the toboggan hill, and 47 stalls will be added to the existing parking lot south of Cosmo Lodge. Parking lot lighting improvements are also a part of the plan.

Priorities in 2023 include four handicapped accessible washrooms throughout the remainder of the park and a warm-up shelter meant for winter warm-up. The warm-up shelter will be a green initiative with solar panels for lighting and electrical power, and a wood stove for heating purposes. Once the Rotary Adventure Park has been completed and amenities are in place, consideration for the playground program will be made.

Lastly, the priorities in 2024 will include a new ski lift at the Kinsmen Ski and Snowboard Centre and providing water service to the Old Log Cabin, Cosmo Lodge, Toboggan Hill, and other areas as required. Public Works is working to bring improved water service through the park, eventually connecting to the airport. This will allow for potable water in central areas of the park and provide additional snow making opportunities.

With recent events, security at the park was a main concern from council members.

“I think there is value in maybe having only one exit onto Highway 55,” Coun. Ted Zurakowski said at the meeting. “If we had a camera there, that could identify who is leaving that area and when, it would narrow down who the vandals are, which is an issue there.”

Yeaman said electricity and Wi-Fi supporting the camera is a barrier there. The increase in population the park has seen has increased the security there without a cost.

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Dawson.thompson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @dawsonthompson8