High quality public places encourage civic engagement and social interaction and support economic vitality.
– St. Albert Downtown Redevelopment Plan (DARP)
It’s good to see that the St. Albert Downtown Redevelopment Plan for Millennium Park is not etched in concrete and according to the Gazette (August 20) plans for its redesign are open to a clean slate.
I must admit that the Millennium Park concept set out in DARP leaves me cold except for a single sentence: “The large grove of trees that currently exists on the site should be reconfigured to reduce barriers and provide clear pathways for people to move through the park.”
We certainly do not need a soccer field, pancake dispenser or BMX facility in the downtown core next to a senior facility. And most definitely we do not want to create a concrete jungle.
For decades, I have advocated that the grove of trees and sometimes wetland be retained and expanded to include a continuous water corridor from Lions Park to the west end of St. Albert Place. This could be easily accomplished by a judicious removal of some of the less desirable trees and willows, dredging around the large spruce trees to create a lovely quiet area in the heart of the city. With judicious plantings, the current forested area could be extended to the south to accommodate whatever land has been allocated for park development.
The central park pond concept is common in older European cities with waterfowl and lily pads to enhance the atmosphere. Trails, bridges and park benches could be strategically located throughout the park for casual observance of nature at its finest. Water could easily be pumped in from the Sturgeon River near the railway trestle and dispersed back into the Sturgeon by way of an underground culvert near the west end of St. Albert Place to maintain its freshness.
Situated next to the newly completed seniors centre, this location would be an ideal respite for our senior citizens. Being close to St. Albert Place, the courthouse and downtown, it would also provide a relaxing stroll or lunch venue for office workers and shoppers. Social skating could be accommodated during the winter months. It would also provide a mecca for our artistic community.
A quiet pond with a naturalized look supplemented by artistically designed benches would be an attractive addition to St. Albert’s inventory of parks, bicycle trails and playfields.
In keeping with the natural concept of such an urban park, the name Millennium Park sounds tinny and smells of concrete. Perhaps a more peaceful name would be more fitting, something that would make Father Lacombe proud – maybe TachĂ©’s Walk.
Ken Allred is a former St. Albert alderman and MLA.
