Council for MD of Pincher Creek asked to ponder Patton Park proposal

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

Lundbreck citizen Dennis Olson appeared as a delegation before council for the MD of Pincher Creek at their May 13 meeting. His personal mission was to inform them about and to seek their support for a proposed revitalization of Patton Park, located at the west end of Lundbreck.

"I hope that your afternoon nap is already done," said Olson with a grin at the beginning of his presentation, indicating they were to expect to receive a significant amount of information. "If I can just summarize, there's been a hell of a pile of work has been done in that park over the many years."

"Over the years we had the best track facility in this area, and the best ball diamonds in this area. Since then it's gone all to hell, it's not much better than the original cow pasture."

"There's been renewed interest with the Cornfest, and the skateboard park. There's much more activity in there. I'm suggesting a committee be appointed," he said, recommending that committee include a main municipal supervisor, a municipal councillor, a school representative, a representative from the Lundbreck Gardeners, two representatives from Lundbreck Town Council, and one representative from the surrounding rural area. "Also, I am suggesting that perhaps a landscape architect be involved."

"I think you are going to have to make some real value considerations, and if I can just go through them quickly:

You are going to have to look at infrastructure in the park. That means what are the future needs of pathways, roads, buildings and facilities. When you plan that there has to be some ideas about the handicapped and how they can be accommodated. You have to consider the surrounding residential impact. That's impact on those houses right next to the park, such items as dust control, traffic flow and parking. If I can tell you a little story... We put about 6 truckloads of red shale on the ball diamonds (originally). Of course most of that blew into the surrounding houses, and we damn near had some law suits."

"Sight lines and possible activities disruptive to the nearby inhabitants should play important role in the initial plan."

Olson said any revitalization plan would have to consider future possible developments on the north, west and south sides of the Park.

Other considerations touched upon by Olsen verbally and/or in his letter to council included a possible shelter belt at the park, safety factors,  possible government and privately sponsored grants and donations, environmentally friendly developments, long term budgeting, involvement of the nearby Livingstone School, the importance of short and long term maintenance programs, and prioritization "based on probable usage with overall costs of each activity incorporated into the final product prioritization."

"This consideration should ultimately incorporate the 'best bang-for-the buck' theory."

"What are you going to do to satisfy the most people that are there."

"Make sure that it is well used."

He explained the proposed development was put on hold until the new water distribution system was in place. "I have particular interest in any planning for the park for three reasons. I was one of the original participants in the planning and development of the park, I am an adjacent landowner, and as a taxpayer and concerned citizen I take particular interest in municipal activities."

According to Olson the land for the Park was originally donated by the Oakley family to the municipality, and "under the auspices of Reeve and Councillor Hilton Pharis and maintenance foreman Lester Roth the park was transformed from a gravelly pasture to a top-soiled and landscaped area which exists today."

"Recreational development was incorporated, mainly by a group of seven volunteers with financing mainly done by the municipality, of which I was a councillor at that time. Extensive tree planting was carried out, mainly through the efforts of volunteers. Development of the ball diamonds and the track and field facilities were professionally planned."

"There was extensive use of these facilities during the 70's, 80's and 90's. However, interest in the park and its facilities waned in the early 2000s. Deterioration set in, caused by lack of interest and inept maintenance. Nearly all of the trees were lost and ball diamonds and the track and field facilities became barely useable, not much better than the original pasture land."

"You are going to have to make some choices, and commitments."

"Basically the choices are:

1. Leave the park as is with repair and updates of existing facilities
2. Minor improvements (mainly aesthetics) such as trees, pathways, and access improvements.
3. Develop a "theme" type of park. ie: water based, recreation based, agriculture based, community gardens etc.
4. Develop a park as a destination site with central features promoting the theme: ie: botanical gardens, historical village, Doukhobor interpretive center, recreation complex, agriculture complex, wildlife interpretive center etc."

"The reason I'm here is that we have sort of been put off for the last two years, until the water distribution centre was up and running. Well, it's up and running now. It's about time we carried it through."

"I would hope that these suggestions and recommendations would spur initial response and set the tone for future discussion and decisions regarding the Patton Park development."

When Olson's presentation was concluded Councillor Fred Schoening asked "Have you had any kind of a community meeting with the residents and surrounding people to provide some direction on how they would like to see the park go?" Olson said the issue has been brought up at Lundbreck Town Council meetings. "Of course, you are going to have to form this committee, and they will get some residential input, I think, and then of course, we will have to have a wrap up after it's done."

"If I might just add, literally hundreds of volunteer hours have gone into this, hundreds of thousands of dollars have gone into this. Let's hope that your decision on this isn't a ten minute decision."