Grand opening this weekend for Irvine Community Resource Centre in location undesired by residents

It is built on what was once Woodward Memorial Park.

Residents had brought a petition forward to Cypress County and held meetings in protest.

They felt that building on the location erased history, eliminated the only forested area in the community and endangered kids with it’s close proximity to the railway tracks.

Irvine resident Marina Cole was very opposed to the location for the new resource centre and the loss of the park.

“It did mean a lot to a lot of people,” Cole said.

“I grew up there my entire life. I knew so many other people did,” she added.

“I grew up with the family as well too and went to school with Trevor and he’s passed now as well, but it was donated as a park, and it was meant to be a park, and now it’s not a park any longer.”

The sentiment heard from a number of residents is that they like the new facility, but still wish it could have been built in a different location.

Cole says she felt that Cypress County didn’t listen to the publics concern on the location.

“You know what I’ve been here, a huge supporter of Irvine. I love this area,” Cole said.

“It is what it is now and just have to move forward,” she added.

“Concerns moving forward is having the county listen to what the members of the community want, rather than going about it on their own accord.”

Within the Irvine Community Resource Centre there is lots of excitement about the new facility.

The library was moved into the building near the end of December and first week of January before it opened.

Cypress County library board chair, Rhonda Pruden says the old library building was quite small and this building allows them to do a lot more.

“The space is one of the biggest things, having space for a lot of people to be here at the same time and not interfere with others,” Pruden said.

“The teenagers can come and be teenagers, the kids can come and be kids and it just opens up so many avenues for what we can provide in our community.”

Pruden says residents have been coming in getting memberships, taking out books, utilizing the computers and find out about their other services.

The library is connected through the Short Grass Library system which allows residents to get items delivered and returned at the location from the other 14 libraries in the system.

Kids have also enjoyed the new outdoor playground built by Blue Imp, a playground manufacturer based out of Medicine Hat.

They also wanted to make sure the memorial to the Woodward family isn’t forgotten.

“We have involved the Woodward family as much as possible in our plans,” Pruden said.

“We are naming our boardroom, the Woodward boardroom to honour the donation of land or the park,” she added.

“There is a sign outside that the Woodward family did help us pick.”

This stone sign in front of the building will be unveiled during the grand opening of the building tomorrow afternoon at one.

List of some related prior stories:

Mar 31, 2023 — Playground dismantled in Woodward Memorial Park ahead of new Community Resource Centre
Mar 17, 2023 — Irvine residents discuss next step to delay construction of the new resource centre
Feb 22, 2023 — Cypress County to go ahead with Irvine Community Resource Centre
Feb 7, 2023 — Tensions run high at Cypress County meeting for proposed library and resource centre
Jan 31, 2023 — Lions Club opposed for location for new resource centre in town
Jan 10, 2023 — Library community centre will help revitalize Irvine, says county reeve
April 10, 2021 — County exploring possible new Library in Irvine

Cypress County webpage on the project:

Irvine Community Resource Centre

by Jesse Gill

Grand opening this weekend for Irvine Community Resource Centre in location undesired by residents

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