Swimming season at Echo Dale ends this weekend

Aug 26, 2022 | 11:57 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – There are just two days left for you to enjoy the water at Echo Dale Regional Park this year.

The boating lake – open for fishing but still closed to non-motorized boats, including canoes, kayaks and paddleboards – and swim lake will end summer operations on Sunday.

Echo Dale was heavily damaged by the severe weather event on July 18.

“Earlier this summer, after receiving regulatory approval, staff installed a temporary pump that runs from the South Saskatchewan River directly to the boat lake. However, the river level has dropped to a point where we can no longer continue pumping from the river. This, combined with the high temperatures this last month, means we are unable to sustain an adequate water level due to a suspected leak in the liner,” said James Will, the City of Medicine Hat’s parks and recreation director. “We will work to inspect the lake and begin making repairs before the end of the year.”

The picnic areas east of the boat lake, which include a portion of the east parking lot, also remain closed due to significant hazards.

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“It’s humbling to see how eager the community is to utilize the park and all of the open space,” Will said. “We are glad we were able to reopen the lake to fishing and allowing additional access to the park, even though it was for a shorter period of time than originally anticipated.”

The city says that once both lakes have been inspected, crews will take the opportunity to better access these areas and begin work ahead of the spring 2023 season. This work will include potential liner repair, stump removal and turf repair as well as repairing any structures, including benches, tables, gazebos, which were damaged in the July storm.

“We want to share a sincere thank you with our residents and park visitors for their ongoing cooperation as we continue to clean-up areas of the park,” Will added. “While the park won’t look quite the same as it has for anyone who visited it in the last few years, we are eager to continue making repairs and improvements and are looking forward to the 2023 season.”

Other amenities and park facilities will remain open through the September long weekend, including Echo Dale Campground, Echo Dale Farm, the trails and off-leash areas

by Chris Brown

Swimming season at Echo Dale ends this weekend

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