A new draft plan for redevelopment of Banff’s recreation grounds calls for a fenced off-leash dog area, a seasonal ice rink, a permanent skateboard park, a toboggan hill and new children’s adventure and water playgrounds.
The completed document will provide the community with a detailed re-development plan and a recommended priority phasing plan. At this stage, there are a series of concepts and $100,000 is set aside in the 2015 capital budget for detailed design.
“There is a concept and the final plan isn’t developed yet,” said Diana Waltmann, communications manager for the Town of Banff.
“We’re going to incorporate all the comments received through the public consultation and then expect to go to council in January with a final plan for the recreation grounds.”
The draft plan for the recreation grounds calls for new and expanded picnic areas, a multi-purpose building with washrooms, concessions, storage and multi-purpose space, children’s bike terrain and skills area and a canoe landing on the Bow River.
The existing basketball court and two tennis courts will remain, and there is space for a potential future additional greenhouse. It also notes a future pedestrian bridge across the Bow River from the rec grounds to Central Park.
The draft plan recommends rugby-soccer field upgrades to a regulation field size, with upgrades to irrigation. In addition, one of three ball diamonds – the east diamond – is to be removed to create room for other amenities on the site.
As part of the draft plan, it’s recommended the existing running track be removed and not replaced, because once the soccer-rugby field is expanded to regulation size, there won’t be enough room to include a running track.
In addition, horse usage by Holiday on Horseback will no longer be permitted on the rec grounds site. The plan calls for alternative horse routes to be investigated, but shows a horse trail running along Cave Avenue as a potential alternative.
“There are existing conflicts between park uses and equestrian uses … horses spooked by people and animals,” according to writers of the draft plan. “As well, the repetitive travel of horses and carriages are causing maintenance
