Claresholm town council hears update on downtown Amundsen Park

By Rob Vogt – Local Press Writer
Work continues on the re-development of downtown Amundsen Park, and Claresholm town council recently had an update on everything that has been accomplished.
At its Jan. 23 meeting, council reviewed oral and written reports from administration.
The written report stated the Amundsen Park re-design project began in 2019 with the creation of a community visioning committee, including representation from numerous community groups. Design work was completed in 2019 and 2020, with actual work beginning on the park in 2021, starting with the gazebo spearheaded by the Lions.
The Amundsen Park re-design project and funding to date has included the following:
2019
• Design, $13,393, funded from town reserves.
2020
• Design, $10,000, funded by a Canada Community Building Fund grant.
2021
• Gazebo, $50,756, with $22,658 from a community facility enhancement program grant, applied for by the Claresholm Lions Club. This was matched with another $22,658 from Canada Community Building Fund and Municipal Sustainability Initiative grants. The other $5,500 came from a Community of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta Foundation grant.
• Design, $1,500, with funding from Canada Community Building Fund and Municipal Sustainability Initiative grants.
2022
• Playground, $124,731, with $77,334 from a community facility enhancement program grant applied for by the Kinsmen Club of Claresholm. Another $42,397 came from town reserves and $5,000 from the community.
• Plaza/pavilion, $464,028, with $350,930 from a Canada Community Revitalization Fund grant, and $113,098 from Canada Community Building Fund and Municipal Sustainability Initiative grants.
The total project cost so far is $664,408, with $456,422 from competitive grants; $147,196 from Canada Community Building Fund and Municipal Sustainability Initiative grants; $55,790 from town reserves; and $5,000 from the community.
2023
2023 projects are estimated/budgeted with only approved competitive grants included.
• Plaza/pavilion, $35,093, with $26,320 from the Canada Community Revitalization Fund, and $8,773 from Canada Community Building Fund and Municipal Sustainability Initiative grants.
• Pathways/lighting, $330,983, with $198,590 from the Active Transportation Fund, and $132,393 from Canada Community Building Fund and Municipal Sustainability Initiative grants.
It was noted regarding the 2023 pathways/lighting project, the town has received word the Active Transportation Fund grant was awarded in the amount of $198,590, at 60 percent funding.
This project involves expanding and revitalizing active transportation infrastructure to promote accessibility, safety, and inclusion. It will expand the Town of Claresholm’s existing pathway system to promote greater use and enjoyment by both residents and visitors.
The project will construct new, multi-use, accessible pathways and ramps at a centrally located greenspace – Amundsen Park – that will connect to the town’s existing active transportation routes and provide users with greater access to the park’s amenities, nearby downtown businesses, residential neighbourhoods, and other key destinations in the community.
The project will create new accessible asphalt, cement, and gravel pathways at the park that will tie into the town’s existing sidewalk and pathway system to enhance the walkability and livability of the community.
To improve the safety and usability of Claresholm’s active transportation infrastructure, the project will also integrate new lighting fixtures along the pathways at the park to support greater safety, use, and enjoyment by residents and visitors.
The project to expand and revitalize Claresholm’s multi-use pathway system will include the following key outputs:
The construction of approximately 1,381 square metres of new, accessible multi-use pathways and ramps at Amundsen Park
The installation of 16 new exterior light fixtures along the new multi-use pathways at Amundsen Park.
The revitalization of Claresholm’s pathways at Amundsen Park will benefit all residents, as well as visitors, by providing new opportunities to access the town’s amenities, services, and businesses via non-motorized, accessible, and safe transit infrastructure.
The town has also submitted, or is planning to submit, grant applications that can be stacked with the Active Transportation Fund grant to further fund the pathways and lighting project to reduce the amount of Canada Community Building Fund and Municipal Sustainability Initiative funding that has to be used, as these funds can be saved/used for other capital projects.