Courtesy: CHAT Newsroom

By Angela Kazmierczak

Playground dismantled in Woodward Memorial Park ahead of new Community Resource Centre

Mar 31, 2023 | 5:20 PM

IRVINE, AB – After months of heated debate between Cypress County and Irvine residents over the location of the new $1.5 million Community Resource Centre, the beginning stages of its construction have started.

On March 31st, 2023, Irvine residents gathered at Woodward Memorial Park to dismantle the playground they opposed having the Resource Centre built in.

“The park means history, it means presence with community minded people and it means fun for kids to play and space,” said Noble.

Members of Citizens Advocacy Association wanted to either renovate the old library or build near the Irvine Sports Centre. They desired to preserve the trees and avoid building such a grand building in a critical flood area, near the railroad tracks.

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More importantly, Amber Coderre wishes Cypress County included the community in the planning process. Upon Cypress County announcing the go-ahead on the project, association members began pressing for more information – it was one of their last attempts at delaying the project.

However, she claims the county responded with the following sentiments:

“They weren’t required to share it, they weren’t required to ask us, they weren’t required to involve us. We really don’t understand it,” said Coderre.

Previously, Cypress County’s Reeve Dan Hamilton said moving ahead with the project is based on feedback and five years-worth of consultations. However, in a council meeting on March 28th, councilors expressed concerns over being harassed. It nearly stopped the project.

The association says their inquiries and questions were sincere.

“What could come forward from this is that people should be listened to. And public pressure is not the same as harassment. You know public inquiry and public pressure is democracy,” said Coderre.

Coderre hopes this situation speaks to others.

Moving forward, the association plans to provide the Irvine Community with a legal support team since she feels the people have lost their voice.

“We’re a tiny place. We know each other. We know all of our neighbours, and what’s really sad is I feel that we’ve lost this bond because nobody here in Irvine decided to do this,” said Coderre.

With the bonds broken within the community, she feels have now lost more than a park.