CHAT News File Photo

By Chris Brown

City welcomes news

Five city projects approved by Municipal Stimulus Program

Dec 18, 2020 | 5:21 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Five projects the City of Medicine Hat submitted for funding through the provincial Municipal Stimulus Program have been approved.

“The City of Medicine Hat welcomes this news from the province,” says Dennis Egert, commissioner of Corporate Services. “This program will provide a much needed boost in our community after a very challenging year.”

The extra funding through the program was announced in the summer, intended to sustain and create local jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program was also intended to enhance provincial competitiveness and productivity and position communities to participate in future economic growth, and reduce municipal red tape to promote job-creating private sector investment.

The city will proceed with the following five projects:

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Gas City Campground Construction

To generate additional net income, the Gas City Campground will convert its remaining 15-20 sites to full service and also add three to five comfort camping, cabin-style sites as a unique service offering to specific tourists/campers.

Multi-Use Trail Development and Extension

South SK River – from Gas City Campground to Echo Dale Regional Park.
This portion of the multi-use trail system was previously anticipated as a five-year phased project. Phase one was completed in 2020, and the remaining phases can be completed under the Municipal Stimulus Program, which will enable the addition of 15-20 km of trail that is expected to increase tourism for adventure tourists and act as a catalyst for increased camping, private accommodations, and visits to neighbouring attractions. A local volunteer group is under agreement with the City to monitor and maintain the condition of the trails.

South Railway – from South Railway/Kingsway to Downtown
This portion of the mulit-use trail system creates an additional recreation opportunity by creating a pedestrian/cycling connection between Kin Coulee, Downtown, and the Lion’s Park trail network.

Multi-Court Pickleball Facility

Pickleball is a rapidly developing recreation activity enjoyed by both the young and aging demographics. Community members and a local pickleball club have approached the City to provide a 20-court outdoor pickleball facility to enable both local play and “tournament destination” recreation. The local pickleball club will operate the venue.

Town Square – Redevelopment of 603 1st Street SE and Riverside Veterans’ Memorial Park

The area will be redeveloped and integrated for dual-use as a much-needed off-street parking lot and a clean, safe and accessible outdoor event space that further enhances access to the waterfront (“town square”). The proposed project includes engineering and design, re-paving a parking lot, construction of fencing, construction of a solar canopy, enhancements to signage, and overall improvement to aesthetics of the area.

BMX Track Upgrades

In the City’s quest to elevate an active lifestyle, this enhancement will allow our city to host provincial and national competitions with ancillary benefit to regional tourism. This project would raise the starting gate of the existing BMX track to regulation height and address necessary track improvements to compete on a national stage. The local BMX club will maintain the track.