BANFF – Much of the Banff recreation grounds redevelopment work has been saved from the chopping block this year as the municipality looks at ways to cut its 2020 capital budget during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, council is deferring $1 million of this year’s $2.5 million spend on the rec grounds as part of a plan to reduce the 2020 capital budget by almost $14 million from $47.8 million to $33.9 million – and possibly more as the pandemic evolves.
Work going ahead this year at the rec grounds includes removal of a ball diamond, sports field and ball diamond irrigation, construction of a dog park, horse trail realignment and completion of the north trail. The running track, also known as the "black ring of death," is also being removed.
Officials say it makes sense to do the work this year, when the rec grounds aren’t in use because of social distancing requirements, but also because of a recent long-awaited agreement with Parks Canada on how to deal with contaminated soil.
Adrian Field, the Town of Banff’s director of engineering, said the municipality reached agreement with Parks Canada to cap contaminated soil on the sports field as opposed to trucking it away, which would costs millions of dollars.
“We just got word from Parks that they are amendable to our approach for the sports field, otherwise known as the 'black ring of death' because it’s basically made of coal dust,” he said.
“We have been working quite hard with Parks Canada over the past couple of years, and with environmental toxicology experts. There really is an advantage to keep going with this project while we have some momentum with Parks.”
Other than $200,000 for design work, Coun. Peter Poole wanted to see the remaining $1.5 million budget for the rec grounds pushed back to 2021 and 2022 given the COVID- 19 financial situation.
But, he said he did want to see a cost estimate for removing contaminated soil instead of capping it.
“Until today, I did not understand that our current rec ground design is to cap a bunch of toxic waste and leave it there forever. I had sort of thought that we would be cleaning up a mess left by others for us in this important natural area of the park,” he said.
“At some point, we should do the right thing – going and cleaning it all up – and so at this point, I am not prepared to vote to spend money to cap this.”
Field responded, noting the Town of Banff has worked closely with toxicology experts to determine the nature of the material, which includes excavations from roads that were built in the park as well as coal waste.
“Parks does become nervous when we start to disturb this material,” said Field, adding that the toxicology reports show the compounds within the material are stable and no risk to groundwater or substrate.
“The risk is to human health when that material is exposed, so having the running track exposed is a risk to human health and one that we’re keen to mitigate.”
Coun. Brian Standish supported the $1.5 million overall spend at the rec grounds this year.
“Being someone who has actually played on that rugby field and has tasted the black ring of death … I firmly believe this is the time to move ahead in this project” he said.
“It’s on the books and now is the time to move it forward.”
Coun. Ted Christensen wanted to see all spending on the rec grounds deferred.
“We’ve got a black ring of death and we’ve got a COVID crisis – and I’d go for the COVID-crisis – and what we’re here to do is to cut costs,” he said.
“I think that black ring of death has been in place for 50 or 60 years and we are in a known crisis and we have to move ahead and make some radical decisions to cut costs.”
Coun. Chip Olver voiced support for the work suggested by administration this year, noting it sets the municipality up for potential infrastructure stimulus funding for future projects such as the multi-purpose building and large natural playground.
“I think spending this is going to get us in good shape to qualify for those dollars,” she said.
Mayor Karen Sorensen was in favour of proceeding with work, but noted the fact that $1 million is being deferred this year until next year is significant under the circumstances.
“The majority of this money is being spent on very disruptive work at the rec grounds, a lot of digging up,” she said.
“Not unlike many other projects, I think it would be a good year to do it because I would anticipate the Banff rec grounds won’t be as busy as they are in other summers.”
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