Several local sports clubs kicked off another 20 years at Riel Recreation Park on Monday night.
City council approved new $1 leases for the St. Albert Soccer Association, St. Albert Rugby Football Club, Kinsmen Club of St. Albert and St. Albert BMX Club. Each lease spans 20 years, while a five-year licence of occupation was signed with the St. Albert Canoe and Kayak Club for storage space in the area.
“All of the community organizations have signed the new lease agreements with these details,” recreation director Monique St. Louis told council.
St. Louis gave an overview of the 20-year agreements, explaining each lease was tailored to meet the needs of individual groups. There’s a provision for the Kinsmen to clean up the rodeo grounds and stock pens, and the soccer association was granted priority for the parking lot near the canoe and kayak area for soccer games.
“The amount of work that goes into bringing one lease to life is amazing, let alone the number we have here,” said city manager Bill Holtby.
Councillor Gareth Jones questioned how much had changed in the lease agreements, citing the rugby club’s history of letting other groups use their space for sporting activities. St. Louis assured that had not changed, and that all of the groups had previously agreed to any changes.
Another concern was the ongoing landfill remediation in the area and how that would affect groups using the space. The city plans to cap the former Riel landfill in several stages and then re-sod areas like the soccer and rugby fields, a plan that will require new water management practices.
St. Louis said if too much moisture is applied it could leach into the landfill and then the Sturgeon River.
St. Louis said the canoe and kayak club’s five-year deal allows the group to store equipment in a quonset in Riel Park, while practicing in west Edmonton.
Council unanimously approved the new leases.
