A group of determined residents keen to bolster recreation in its communities is getting the ball rolling on some much-sought-after projects.
Black Diamond and Turner Valley residents spent the past few months establishing the non-profit Friends of Sheep River Valley Parks Society, which will engage with municipalities to further enhance and develop outdoor recreation in the two towns and the land between them.
“We felt we needed to get some outside resources to help these overworked town leaders and be able to build that volunteer base and that engagement,” said Joel Den Haan, society chairman. “We have a list of about 20 volunteers ready to step up and help us, and we’re expecting that to grow. I’ve already got some friends I’ve roped into volunteering from Okotoks. It’s an opportunity for all of us to come together.”
The idea to form a society developed as a result of public engagement exercises held by the Turner Valley Parks, Pathways and Recreation Committee in 2019.
Results of surveys and feedback collected by the committee indicated strong support for river access, trail connectivity, expanded pathways and a multi-use outdoor recreation area.
“There was significant interest from residents willing to volunteer to implement projects, especially with the proposed Arrowhead Park,” said Den Haan.
The Black Diamond Parks and Rec Committee held a similar public engagement exercise, which also showed public support for pathways, river access and connectivity.
An organizational meeting of interested residents was held virtually in January and a directors meeting in February. Society directors are chair Den Haan, vice-chair Colin Fleming, secretary Irene Waring and treasurer Mady Thiel-Kopstein.
Den Haan said the society will support planning for parks and pathways between and within the two communities through public engagement, liaising with municipalities, building volunteer support to create and care for parks and pathways and developing funding resources in consultation with municipalities.
Among the first projects on the list, said Den Haan, is Arrowhead Park, a seven-acre Town-owned parcel southwest of the Sheep River along Decalta Road which proposes the potential for walking trails, an off-leash dog park and bicycle pump track, among other possibilities.
Another project is a trail upgrade through and around the Turner Valley Golf Club lands.
“We’ve had some dialogue with the Town of Turner Valley around what their plans are in terms of Arrowhead Park and trail connections in and through the golf course area,” he said. “We were going to start rolling out our first project with the Arrowhead Park clean up.”
After the Province’s most recent COVID-19 regulations put a stop to this month’s scheduled clean up in Arrowhead Park, Den Haan hopes to reschedule the event to June.
“We did the walk through on April 23 just to see what needs to be done,” he said. “There actually isn’t a lot of clean up that needs to be done. There is some fencing that will have to be removed.”
With town administration busy with its own operations, as well as amalgamation talks and functioning under ever-changing COVID restrictions and regulations, Den Haan said there’s an obvious need for volunteers to contribute to improving and growing outdoor recreation in the towns.
Establishing a society also allows for access to funds that aren’t available to municipalities.
Den Haan said the next few months will be spent working on securing grants to support outdoor recreation projects, as society members anticipate a steady climb in demand for outdoor recreation.
“There’s been a huge upswing of people using local recreation,” he said. “There are a lot more people walking and cycling locally. I think we’re just in the beginning of realizing the scope of capacity in these communities for recreation both locally and on a tourism level.”
