The St. Albert Kinsmen RV Park opened its gates a month ago and business is good, but the Kinsmen say it couldn't have been done without community support.
Kinsmen club president Jevon Gibb is amazed at local businesses that have donated all-weather windows, flooring, and tiling to help the Kinsmen update their facility.
"The whole community supports us," said Gibb. "Our facility was aging and the infrastructure costs are huge … we're really grateful that community leaders are stepping up and helping us out."
The club has also struck a deal with In-Line Contracting Ltd., who built the park, to completely finish all 91 stalls this summer.
The RV park is part of phase one of the Riel remediation that also includes the capping and grading of the old landfill beneath the site, and a new multi-use sports field.
The RV park was set to open last fall but construction delays forced the Kinsmen to push the date back until last month. Even then the club only expected to open 57 stalls.
According to Gibb, the Kinsmen realized how much it would cost to develop the last 34 stalls later on and decided to try and finish the project this year.
"[We] looked at it and thought that in a couple of years it would cost us millions, so we approached In-Line Construction and they were happy to support the Kinsmen."
Gibb couldn't say how much In-Line loaned the club, but said it was less than $1 million.
According to RV park general manager Larry King, the Rainmaker Rodeo was great for business this year and he expects the park to remain full for most of the summer.
"We have a full house all the way until the end of the month, so it's coming right along," King said.
Although construction at the park has yet to end, King said visitors have been patient and for the most part are happy with their location. He expects all 91 stalls to be open this month.
But the RV park isn't the only location in the Riel area to get some good news this month.
Rotary Park closer to reality
The Saint City Rotary Club received a $100,000 grant from the city last week toward a new Rotary park next to the RV facility.
The grant was awarded through the city's community capital grant program and it will pay for one third of the park's estimated cost.
Rotary club president Linda Perras is excited the project is closer to finally getting under way.
"We're excited because finally there is an end to the rainbow, we can actually see this coming into fruition," said Perras.
The park was supposed to be finished in 2005 for Rotary's centennial anniversary, but it had to wait until phase one of Riel Recreation Park was complete.
Perras expressed frustration over how long it's taken to get done, but the group has $75,000 of its own set aside for the project and will apply for a provincial grant for the other $125,000 it needs to finish the park.
"It's been a little frustrating because we were never sure when we could start," Perras said.
She said the park would include a boat launch, picnic tables, fire pits and possibly an interpretive centre when it's complete.
