Prairie Walk officially opens
September 28, 2007
Prairie Walk -- Centre in the Park's first public space officially opens
A new uniquely designed walkway now lines Strathcona County's Centre in the Park, a multi-use, pedestrian-friendly community hub being built in Sherwood Park.
Today, the Honourable Hector Goudreau, Minister of Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture visited Strathcona County Hall and joined Mayor Cathy Olesen to officially acknowledge the opening of Prairie Walk.
Prairie Walk is the first of several public spaces to be built in Centre in the Park. It is a major east-west pedestrian corridor that will connect the future Volunteer Plaza to the existing Festival Place. The walkway will further link to Sherwood Park's trail system, and connect the cultural, residential, commercial and civic buildings in the area.
Along Prairie Walk's northern edge, a distinctive water channel runs the length of the paving stone pathway that is complemented with bench seating. On the southern edge of the walkway a selection of grasses and trees will showcase the prairie landscape. Energy-efficient, indirect reflective light standards line the walkway, end to end. Reflecting on Strathcona County's history, a Prairie Walk interpretive display will pay tribute to one of the community's early pioneers, R.P. Ottewell.
"We are delighted to open the first phase of Centre in the Park and extend our appreciation to the Government of Alberta for its contribution toward this legacy for our community," says Mayor Olesen. "The bold and inviting water feature that flows through Prairie Walk was made possible through a $250,000 Alberta Centennial Legacies Grant. Many a resident and visitor, today and for many years to come, will enjoy a stroll on the Prairie Walk."
"Prairie Walk promotes an appreciation of nature and an active lifestyle, which contributes to a high quality of life -- a top priority of the Alberta government," says Hector Goudreau, Minister of Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture. "This walkway is a wonderful tribute to Alberta and its first 100 years as a province."
-30-
Contacts:
Mayor Cathy Olesen, 780-464-8000
Strathcona County
Erin Larson, 780-427-6530
Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture
Backgrounder: Prairie Walk, Centre in the Park
The Prairie Walk is one of the main public spaces within Centre in the Park, a multi-use development under construction in Sherwood Park. Prairie Walk is a pedestrian path running east-west through the site linking Festival Place with the yet-to-be-constructed Volunteer Plaza.
Prairie Walk
Water feature
Main features of Prairie Walk
- Phase I of the Prairie Walk was completed in late July, 2007, the first of the public spaces within Centre in the Park to be built.
- A water feature is a key design element, lining the north side of Prairie Walk, and complemented with seating. The Alberta 2005 Centennial Legacies Grant was used to create the water feature.
- The Prairie Walk is designed to reflect the history and natural landscape of Strathcona County, with animal images embedded in the concrete of the water feature. When fully complete, the Prairie Walk will be landscaped with ornamental grasses, and art celebrating the community's cultural life.
- The Prairie Walk and associated Volunteer Plaza will cost $1.8 million, of which $250,000 was contributed by the Centennial Legacies Grant.
- Centre in the Park will become a hub for the community, combining residential buildings, walkways, a central plaza, retail services, a new library, multi-use community space and convenient access to municipal services.
- Centre in the Park is being developed with both public and private involvement. The residential component is being developed by Christenson Developments. The first residential building opened for occupancy mid-summer. Strathcona County is managing development of all public spaces on the site.
- Sustainability is a key component of every aspect of Centre in the Park with support from the federal and provincial governments as well as Strathcona County and the private sector.
Centre in the Park: a multi-use area in the heart of Sherwood Park
- Environmental innovation is incorporated throughout the development, from its pedestrian-friendly design to the use of energy-efficient street lighting and landscaping.
- The entire area is served by a community energy system that heats buildings using hot water from a central source through an underground piping system. The community energy system began operating in late 2006, and serves existing municipal buildings as well as new residential buildings under construction. The system will reduce greenhouse gas production by 1,100 tonnes per year compared with a conventional heating system. The Community Energy Centre, the building that houses boilers and other equipment, is constructed to a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Standard.
- Detailed design is well underway on the final component of Centre in the Park, the Community Centre. This building will house a new library, along with multi-use public space and added space for municipal services. Construction is scheduled to begin later this fall, with completion in three years.
Further information on Centre in the Park
Rudy Koop, Project Manager, 464-8276
Last updated: Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Page ID: 4001