Four new plans for parks in Morinville set to be unveiled this week could soon let local kids get up close and personal with life in Heritage Lake.
The Town of Morinville is holding an open house Thursday on the Rotary, Montreux, Lakes and Heritage Lake park regions. The meeting is meant to gather ideas on how these parks should be developed.
Town council asked administration to create site plans for these parks in last year's budget, said Kerry Dawson, the town's director of community services. A steering committee has since created draft plans for each park, and is now looking for the public's suggestions on how to improve them.
"We're looking at how we can enhance (these areas) and encourage local residents to come," Dawson said. Residents will be asked to weigh in on the plans and post their suggestions on them with sticky notes.
They will also be asked how the town should improve its trail system, Dawson added.
"Are they where they should be? Should we have other types of trails?"
Four parks, four plans
Two of the parks are essentially open fields, Dawson said, while two are slightly developed.
Heritage Lake is the large human-made lake just outside Morinville west of Hwy. 2.
"It's an amazing little space for fishermen to go with their families," Dawson said, and draws deep-water anglers from across the province.
The town wants to make it more attractive to local residents by broadening what can be done there. The lake's not fit for swimmers or power-boats, for example, but it could work for picnickers. One idea is to build an interpretive platform that would let kids study the lake's wildlife.
Rotary Park already has some amenities so the current proposal is to make it more senior-friendly with trees, benches and a community garden.
"It's only a block away from the main drag," Dawson said, so it could also be a place for local business owners to have lunch. The soccer pitch would stay where it is now.
The Lakes is a stormwater pond located in the north-central part of town.
"It's surrounded by beautiful homes," Dawson said, but is otherwise undeveloped. Draft plans envision a bridge over the lake and a hill converted into a natural amphitheatre for outdoor performances.
Montreux Park is an open field just north of the Community Cultural Centre.
"It's kind of an open slate," Dawson said, but it is currently popular for walking.
The open house is at the Community Cultural Centre Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., with a presentation at 7 o'clock, Dawson said. The plans themselves will be on display until next week.
For details, call Dawson at 780-939-7836.
