The new and improved Bear Creek Outdoor Pool will start to take shape in 2017. The facility is set for construction in the coming year and a completion date of June 2018. Mayor Bill Given says the plans will be complete and looked at in January.
“The highlight is really getting to that point that the community can rest assured that they can see the Bear Creek Pool be renovated. Unfortunately, it won’t open until the year after that but I think it’s important for people to know that that’s underway.”
The city is looking at a triple loop slide and tots pool as features for the facility. The slide will cost around $270,000 and will only be added if the project stays within the $5.5 million budget.
Construction will also be a theme for the spring as it is every year. The Downtown Enhancement project will continue and Mayor Bill Given says although they did a lot of work, there is more that will carry into the next construction season.
“We got started later in the spring. There was less time available to do the project this construction season. As they went in there, like any renovation project when you open walls and see what is under there you can find some surprises. That absolutely was the case with the downtown project.”
It was always meant as a multi-phase project but more has been added into 2017 because of delays due things like weather.
The construction on 68th Avenue will be once again be something to look at in early spring. Given says that although it is weather dependent, they expect that to be done by early to mid-summer.
The next year may bring more collaboration from municipal governments as well. The Municipal Government Act was tweaked this year in order to have requirements from the provincial government. Mayor Bill Given says after the next election, local governments will be working together more often.
“Cities, towns, and counties across the province have been lobbying the provincial government to make changes to the Municipal Government Act. It is a pretty big deal in our world.”
He says this could change the way regional services are provided to people in the area. Most recently, the M.D. of Greenview, the city and county got on board a project to plan for a large industrial park in the area. The County and city are also working together to host the 2018 Alberta Summer Games.