With development continuing north in St. Albert's Erin Ridge neighbourhood, the city is planning for a new community park space on Element Drive.
The park won't be developed for at least two years, is planned to include a boarded outdoor rink with adjacent social skating space, a rink shack, space for public art, picnic and seating space, “naturalized play features,” and a parking lot, according to a recent request for proposals (RFP) published by the city.
The park will also connect to existing trail networks in and around Erin Ridge, the RFP explains.
According to the city's Erin Ridge North Parks Master Plan, the Element Drive park will serve as an “attractive welcome” to the neighbourhood.
“The design focuses on integrating natural elements with opportunities for social gathering and play,” the master plan states. “Natural play features are integrated along the trails and large open green space will provide space for spontaneous activities.”
To achieve this, the city is seeking a qualified contractor to generate a detailed design for the park space, which will also need to account for all required utility and stormwater infrastructure.
As well, the successful bidder must “provide support to the city during design for public engagement and other public communications,” the RFP reads.
“The consultant shall have a representative available to support engagement events (and) event organizing will be provided by the city and will not be part of the project's scope.”
The RFP states that the consultant must submit an overall estimate for the park's construction sometime next year so that the estimate can be included in the 2025 budget.
The city's budget for the consultant is not included in the RFP, however it does state that the city is looking to execute an agreement sometime next month.
The Erin Ride North Parks Master Plan also shows that a second rather substantial park space is planned for Edison Drive, just east of the Element Drive park
The Edison Drive Park, the master plan explains, “will be a focal point for creating a sense of connectedness within the neighbourhood.”
To achieve community connectedness, the Edison Drive park is planned to include a “large pollinator garden” to support biodiversity and edible plantings along trails throughout the space to “provide an opportunity for residents to spontaneously pick and enjoy berries or other low-maintenance plants.”
The master plan states that rather than another outdoor boarded rink, the Edison Drive Park will have a tarmac area to cater to summer sports such as basketball as well as a playground.
City spokesperson Marci Ng said in an email that the Edison Drive park won't be developed until the neighbourhood is further built.
“At this time, we are anticipating potential city enhancement of that park in 2028, subject to when the developer completes their work and with budget approval,” Ng said.
