A Regional Draw

I'm not sure if people real realize just how cool The Multiplex is going to be. It seems like a lot of people think of it as "the new pool" and that leads to picturing an updated, bigger, version of the Leisure Centre.

The reality is that it's much, much more than that. It really does have the potential to be a regional tourist draw.

I'm not saying that people from Calgary are going to decide that they need to drive up just to check it out but I do believe that people from the north and the region around the city may do just that. I also think that after families stop in once they will start to make it a regular part of their visits to the City. Just like my family used to stop in at the wave pool in Millwoods and then the water park at WestEd when we would go down to Edmonton.

With features like a tube slide, adventure river and surfing machine all set in amongst a fantasy dinosaur theme, kids and parents alike are going to love it.

Check out the pictures and tell me you're not excited too....

City Media Release

The much anticipated Dinosaurs for the Multiplex are finally arriving in Grande Prairie! The first shipment of the Multiplex’s prehistoric pals, are now onsite at the Multiplex and installation will begin in late June.

Cheryl McKenzie, Multiplex Marketing Manager says “This is one of the most exciting parts of the overall aquatics area. The personality that these playful dinosaurs display is just amazing. In the children’s vortex area the dinosaurs are cute, colourful and friendly.

There are 6 perched on Hoo Doo’s surrounding the kiddie’s area, and they are equipped with goggles and life preservers just ready to splash in the pool. There are 3 more surrounding the family hot tub and volcano. Further back in the giant slide area beside the lazy river the dinosaurs are more realistic looking. We have a giant T-Rex head that is breaking through the rock facade over the change rooms and a couple more are on the island in the Lazy River. In addition the theme includes waterfalls, foliage, 4 pterodactyls, dinosaur rib cage and murals depicting some of the prehistoric aquatic life. The City wants to support the exciting new dinosaur opportunities that our region is becoming known for and The Multiplex is the perfect place to put that theme to good use. Though the Dinosaurs at the Multiplex in no way represent those found at Pipestone, they will certainly help get visitors and locals alike in the ‘Dinosaur Frame of Mind’.”

The Dinosaurs were designed in Calgary at Studio Y Creations and have taken over a year to develop. Studio Y has taken the Dinosaur theme to a whole new level while remaining considerate of all ages of our patrons.

“It is going to be so exciting to show off the Multiplex to everyone. It is definitely a one of a kind facility that won’t fail to impress anyone who comes to visit us!” adds McKenzie.

South Muskoseepi Bridge Closed

As the sun has come out and the snow has started to melt I'm sure everyone is itching to get out and go for a walk, run or bike ride on the trails. Unfortunately there is a problem at the pedestrian bridge south of 68th Ave....

-Update- The bridge has been opened to pedestrians again. Repairs to the asphalt will be made later this spring (the plants that make the asphalt haven't started up yet) but the bridge is safe to use.


Media Release
April 6, 2011

Water Wash Out Closes South Bear Creek Trail

The concrete pedestrian bridge adjacent to 68th Ave. in Muskoseepi Park has been closed indefinitely.

This action results from water washing away the approach to the bridge which spans South Bear Creek. Aquatera is working to find the source of the runoff and complete repairs.

As a precaution the bridge has been barricaded and fenced off to prevent public from crossing in that location.

“We ask trail users to find an alternative route until further notice while heavy equipment is in the location to undertake repairs,” says Parks Operations Manager Laurie Barry. “We know this is a popular location for trail enthusiasts and regret this inconvenience. However, safety is of utmost importance.”

“There is a significant amount of damage from runoff to the area around the bridge,” says Aquatera spokesperson Tim Conrad. “Our team is investigating the water source, and will look to redirect it and make temporary repairs to the trail as soon as possible.

“We will need to close the trail and bridge again later in the spring to complete permanent repairs after the frost has come out of the ground.”

Media enquiries may be directed to:

Laurie Barry
Muskoseepi Park Operations Manager
780.538.0453

Tim Conrad
Aquatera Communications Manager
780.513.5220

Very Cool Program Expansion at GPRC

GPRC Media Release:

Bachelor of Education Secondary now offered at GPRC

Meeting the demand for high school teachers in northern Alberta is the goal of a new pilot program this fall at GPRC. For the first time ever, the Bachelor of Education, Secondary, will be available in Grande Prairie through a collaboration of GPRC and the U of A, beginning with Year 3 in the fall of 2011. A series of information sessions are being planned to share specifics with prospective students.

The highly successful Teacher Education North (B Ed Elementary) collaboration has been paving the way for this announcement for more than ten years – over 150 elementary teachers now employed at schools throughout our region are alumni of the GPRC/U of A collaborative degree. Students have long been requesting the option of Secondary route degree completion at GPRC as well.

Area school districts have been working closely with government, GPRC and the U of A to facilitate this pilot project, and the great cooperation and effort of all the people involved is recognized as its major strength.

“We are fortunate to have wonderful partners who have made this pilot project possible,” says Susan Bansgrove, GPRC Vice-President Academics and Research. “It is a collaborative effort in every sense, and all partners are excited at the potential to increase access to needed education for learners in our northern and remote region.”

Peace Wapiti School District is excited about the recruitment opportunities that this pilot program represents, according to Superintendent Sheldon Rowe. “We expect that in the upcoming years, as a result of a considerable increase in retirements, we will be facing a significant and growing shortage of secondary teachers,” says Rowe. “This U of A program brokered by GPRC will help address this issue and also help insure that our new hires are very familiar with the advantages and disadvantages of teaching in rural northern Alberta. As a District we are always pleased to see additional locally available post secondary programs offered to our graduates.”

The pilot program will offer a general Bachelor of Education Secondary program, with majors in either English language arts or general science, and minors in English language arts, general science or math. Prospective students who have completed 60 credits of study may bring transcripts to GPRC for evaluation. It is hoped that a cohort of 20 students will soon be registered for the program, which begins in September, 2011.

“The opportunity for the University of Alberta to collaborate with GPRC in offering a pilot program in Secondary Education is ground breaking and extremely exciting,” says Fern Snart, Dean, Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta. “The Faculty of Education and GPRC have an excellent relationship based on a decade of delivering the Teacher Education North (TEN) Elementary Education program, and both institutions share a great pride in the many graduates who are adding strength to the teaching force in northern Alberta. We are confident that the Secondary graduates from this cohort will join the school systems with equal strength in two years, and we are delighted to have this opportunity.”

-30-


For comment please contact:
Susan Bansgrove, VP Academics and Research
Grande Prairie Regional College
780-539-2867
sbansgrove@gprc.ab.ca

OR

Fern Snart, Dean
Faculty of Education
University of Alberta
780-492-3751
fern.snart@ualberta.ca

Ahh Spring....

The city has a general email account that people use from time to time to send notes myself or council. As we get in to spring I expect this won't be the last one I receive that is concerned about the roads.

I try to respond to any email that has a working return address and a name. Here's the resident's note (with their name removed) and my response:


Comments: 
I know your the new mayor of Grande Prairie, but you might want to start doing something and get the roads fixed because they are shitty, that's the only way to describe it. You might want to start considering the citizens of Grande Prairie because if your doing nothing to fix the roads, are you gonna pay for all the vehicle damages? 


Thanks,
 - Name Removed - 


My response....


Hi - Name Removed -, thanks for the note. 


You'll notice that we've had a spring with lots of melting, then re-freezing. This is really rough on the roads, it creates lots of potholes that weren't there last fall because the run-off water gets in to tiny cracks in the pavement and then freezes over night. When it freezes it expands and breaks apart the pavement just like a bottle that's left in the freezer too long. 

We will be going after these potholes very aggressively but there's not too much we can do until more of the snow melts and the temperatures get warmer. We have already had some crews out addressing the worst cases but that work doesn't last because it's still too wet can cold for the repairs to hold. 

This summer we plan to spend about $20 million on road repair, construction and overlays as well as sidewalk construction. So this area is a major priority for me, Council and our staff.... and we're spending a significant amount of your tax dollars on it. 

I hope you'll notice the improvement but understand that our weather here make this an ongoing battle and that every spring will bring new potholes no matter what we do. 

Thank you again for taking the time to write.

Bill Given, 
Mayor, City of Grande Prairie 

2011 State of the City Address

This afternoon I had the pleasure of presenting the State of the City Address at an even hosted by the Chamber of Commerce.

Here's the full text of the speech:


Good afternoon,


It's my pleasure to present the State of the City Address for the first time as Mayor of Grande Prairie.


Before I go any further, I'd like to extend my thanks to the Grande Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce for hosting today and to each and everyone of you for attending.


I take great pride in telling others across the province how Grande Prairie, Alberta's SEVENTH largest city, is home to Alberta's THIRD largest Chamber.


The Chamber is a key partner for the City and I believe the state of the organization speaks to the strength of our local economy. Thank you Dave, Dan and to your whole team for hosting today -and for all the work that you do.


By design, Council and Administration come together form a single unit so I'd be remiss if I didn't recognize the members of my team who are here today...


Councillors;
Croken, Gustafson, McLean, Munroe, O'Toole, Radbourne & Wong


.... and our Senior Administration Team:
Greg Scerbak & Frank Deskawech


It’s hard to believe that we’re closing in on March – We’ve already had a busy start to the year and everything suggests it will be a significant milestone for your new Council.


I had the pleasure to speak at the Chinese New Year celebration last month. At the time I noted that 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit – recognized as a year of calm, peace and an opportunity to reflect.


As global events have shown, we can probably still expect this year to have its share of excitement and turmoil. But I believe that locally, 2011 will be marked as a time of taking stock of where we are and laying the groundwork for future success.


In November, just weeks after the new Council was elected, one of our first tasks was to review the 2011 budget that had previously been approved by the prior council.


At that point, we were each working from a perspective informed by the issues we heard from residents during the election.


AND, although it's a challenging task for a new group, I believe we were focused on a shared goal of keeping any tax increase to a minimum - Which we accomplished.


We reduced a proposed 7.6% tax increase to just 2.5%. In large part this was achieved by deferring capital projects and putting off proposed staffing increases.


For example, council choose to defer a request for 6 additional RCMP officers in 2011 that would have added just under $750 thousand dollars per year to the budget.


It's obvious that those types of deferrals are only short term solutions.


To put our community on a more sustainable path we will need to take a longer term view and address our challenges head on.


During our March 9th to 11th strategic planning session, Council will discuss, from a Big Picture perspective, our priorities related to programs, facilities, infrastructure, services and tax levels.


The new Strategic Plan that emerges will not be a revision of past plans with a few new words here & there.


It will be the vision this council uses to guide the next three year budget cycle, and beyond.


Why is it so important to take time away from overseeing this $100 million operation to develop a plan?


I believe that at the start of this new term and budget cycle, it’s more important than ever that Council forms a collective vision of where we believe the community needs to go.


Think of it like this: A couple are discussing their vacation plans, They could go visit family in Kelowna, or Calgary or Saskatoon.


If they can't come to some consensus on a preferred option...


If they can’t first agree on a final destination, a goal, it's likely they'll end up not going anywhere at all.


Once they decide it's Calgary, the actual route they take to get there can follow.


They could fly or drive down Highway 2. Or even, maybe Highway 22. Each has it's pluses and minuses but without first agreeing on a destination, the route wouldn't even matter.


So the challenge for your council is to agree on a goal. A vision of what we want our community to be in the future. We need to set the destination.


Once developed, the Strategic Plan will provide a vision for Administration, allowing our admin team to set service priorities and develop a budget for Council to review next fall.


Over the course of the planning session, Council will also provide Administration with a range of financial expectations within which they can build the budget, based on the priorities we’ve established.


Going in to this, Council’s challenge will be to think long term.


And, to balance our community's needs for infrastructure and services with the reality of our fiscal situation.


We already know that our revenue maybe be reduced by as much as $2 million as a result of the end of the fire agreement with the County of Grande Prairie, and there may be an additional loss of up to $2 million as Aquatera transitions to its own corporate services by year’s end.


In addition to the reduced revenue in these areas, we’re also dealing with the results of lower than expected funding from the provincial government's Municipal Sustainability Initiative, or MSI, grant program.


When it was announced MSI was intended to deliver long-term sustainable funding to municipalities which would allow us to make long-term planning decisions and investments in infrastructure.


We were told we could “Bank on It.”


Unfortunately it hasn't exactly turned out that way. For example, due to provincial budget changes last year the city received $6 million less than was forecast.


This in turn required us to take on extra borrowing to complete the construction of The Multiplex. Over the term of mortgage this extra borrowing will cost us approximately $3 million in interest, further reducing the effectiveness of our MSI monies.


Ironically, today is also provincial budget day, so we are hoping for good news for municipalities and for provincial capital projects in our community.


The final part of the financial picture that council needs to consider is the mix of land-uses in the city and how that impacts our ability to generate revenue.


In study after study in Alberta and across North America it's recognized that residential properties consume more in services than they provide in tax revenue. It's industrial and commercial assessment that pays the way.


The difference is staggering;


Residential properties tend to consume approximately $1.60 in services for every $1 in tax revenue they generate.


While Industrial development consumes just 14¢ in services for every $1 it generates.


In Grande Prairie our assessment is approximately 74% Residential, 24% commercial and just 2% Industrial.


As a business person, imagine discovering that 75% of your customers used more in services than they generated in revenue. What would you think of the outlook for your business? What would you do?


This is one of the factors that council cannot ignore when thinking about our community's strategic plan.


On the more positive side council will be well equipped with an array of public input to consider as we think about the future:


This includes resident concerns and feedback we each heard during the election.


Early results from the 2011 Quality of Life/Customer Satisfaction Survey will be in, and public consultation documents from the Municipal Development Plan and Municipal Sustainability Plan processes will provide extra context.


All of this information – the challenges and the public input will help provide the foundation for our strategic plan which we'll report back to the community on later this spring.


Speaking of public input: Right now, the research firm of Ipsos Reid is conducting the Quality of Life/Customer Satisfaction Survey by getting in touch with approximately 400 city residents.


The last customer satisfaction survey in 2009 revealed that more than 90% of residents feel there is a high quality of life in Grande Prairie.


Residents were the most satisfied with our services in the areas of Fire, Police & Enforcement and Crime Prevention.


At the same time they showed concern with Infrastructure, Affordable Housing & Land Use and Planning.


It'll be interesting to see what the top of mind issues are for our citizens this time around.


It'll be surprising if we don’t hear significant feedback about our snow removal program following the record downfall in mid-January.


Council has already taken the proactive step of asking Administration to conduct a thorough review of our snow removal and ice control program at the end of this winter.


The point is not to look solely at our efforts in reaction to this one weather event but to consider how we address snow removal in the big picture. Including preplanning, resources and communications.


One great news story emerging from the record snowfall was how the community embraced social media as a means of expressing their concerns, asking questions and receiving updates on our progress.


Residents can expect we’ll continue to open up opportunities for them to join in the conversation with, and about their city government.


Having a social media presence certainly proved to be a bonus when it came time to promote vacancies for volunteer positions on our boards and committees this fall.


We had a record response, with far more people interested in serving than we had spaces!


In fact, nearly 40 people applied for just 18 positions on committees.


This represents an incredible success story in community engagement and participation, something we are eager to repeat in other municipal processes.


As well, our budget deliberations last fall were webcast for the first time.


I think people appreciated the opportunity to tune into deliberations from the comfort of their homes, offices or calssrooms.


I mentioned earlier that this would be a year focused on setting the stage for success in the years to come.


Our Land Use Bylaw review, to be complete by year’s end, is one of these foundational elements.


This document will guide the dynamics and aesthetics of the City as it continues to grow.


The update will revise existing provisions to allow the City to meet its mandate to effectively control and regulate land use while still remaining sufficiently flexible to permit new opportunities and innovations.


This will be key as the City begins to annex land from the County of Grande Prairie through the Inter-municipal Development Plan, adopted last year.


The IDP identifies short- and long-term annexation areas and steps are underway to initiate that process with open houses for affected land owners scheduled for early March.


Annexation is vital to the City’s economic growth. It will provide much needed land to attract new industrial and commercial firms.


The short-term area covers about 6,000 hectares, predominantly in the northwest, northeast and several quarter sections surrounding the City identified for annexation in the former IDP.


Our Transportation Master Plan is also progressing. It will help us as we develop our transportation network to address some of the pressures of today and prepare for future growth.


This massive undertaking will explore pedestrian, cycling, transit and vehicle opportunities in the City, and beyond.


Of course it's not all long term planning and blue-sky thinking. As we head in to 2011 the city is working on a number of important projects that will impact the future of our community and improve life for residents.


By April, we will be able to gauge interest in the possibility of redevelopment of the former York Hotel and/or Germain Park properties in our City's Centre.


A “Request For Information” is available on AlbertaPurchasingConnection.com and has been distributed across the country to attract proposals. This is probably the most flexible and transparent process the city has ever undertaken with respect to land development. Proposals will be judged on five simple criteria:

• How do they support the concepts within the Downtown Enhancement and Municipal Development plans?
• How do they increase Density and impact Activity in the downtown?
• What is the developer’s experience with projects of this nature and their financial capability?
• What are the proposed project timelines?
• And finally, what is the overall financial benefit to the City?

It appears that the positive effects of the City's investment in purchasing the property are already being noticed by the business community.


Yesterday at the DownTown Association's Annual General Meeting the City was presented with a certificate of appreciation for the positive impact the change has had for businesses in the area.


Also this year,


We will expand on the foundation of our City-Wide Wireless Initiative by adding up to 100 hot spots across the community. Residents will benefit from improved customer service as our field staff will have the ability to retrieve information remotely, just as though they were at a workstation in city hall.


Our brand will be launched shortly with a new visual identity including a logo and slogan that promote the community’s innovative, resourceful and entrepreneurial nature.


We’re looking forward to the opportunity to have visual imagery that helps residents celebrate what they have while encouraging visitors and new businesses to come see why we love it here.


Close on the heals of the new visual identity the city will launch a completely redesigned website. This will be the first major update to the city's web presence since 2004 and will allow residents and visitors to find information more easily.


We will also integrate social media features to enhance our communication capabilities and begin the steps of integrating OpenData principles.


And, recognizing that investing in infrastructure is still a priority for our community, a significant amount of capital projects will be underway including:


Twinning of 116 Street between 84th and 97th avenues as well as paving the section between 68th and 84th avenues. This will be a welcome relief for residents in the Westpointe neighbourhood and for drivers as it paves the last section of gravel between the bypass and the correction-line.


Also on the books is the badly needed rehab of 102nd Street from 97th ave to 86th avenue.


These will be just two of the projects in a summer road & sidewalk construction program that will total almost $21 million dollars.


We’ll be nearing completion on the third fire hall as we move into 2012. This facility will be an extremely valuable addition to our ability to protect the community. Its location in the west end means neighbourhoods and businesses in that area of the City will be safer and that we'll be able to provide excellent service to the residents in the annexation areas.


The ultimate highlight of 2011 will be the completion of The Multiplex.


This facility will offer something for everyone in Grande Prairie, and beyond. I know I can’t wait for my turn on the FreeFM Freerider.


The Multiplex will be a dynamic attraction for the region, helping to make this community a destination to travel to . . . and for visitors on the road, a location where they can be enticed to stay an extra day or two.


And it all wouldn't be possible without our community partners like Telus, Menzies, Servus Credit Union, Rotary Clubs of Grande Prairie, FreeFM, Daily Herald Tribune RBC and Radium Industrial Solutions who have come on board to support the project. Thank you.


As a municipality, we are always examining ways to improve how we do business and means to support the develop our local economy.


We have formed an Economic Development Advisory Committee, with public representatives from various sectors of the local economy.


This group will help guide the work of our Economic Development Department as it addresses the priorities outlined in our Economic Development Plan.


One of the priorities in the plan was to address the underlying costs of doing business in The North.


In response, the Economic Development has begun providing residents monthly updates on the cost of retail power while providing education on energy aggregation and promoting energy efficiency.


Also, Over two years ago we first initiated our Business Visitation Program.


Through the process, we received a lot of rich data to help us better understand the needs of our local business community. We'll continue to follow up on those needs and priorities.


The City is also undertaking process improvement initiatives to enhance our customer service.


We took a significant step forward with the recent renovation at the City Service Centre, which for the first time brought together our Parks, Fleet, Transportation Services, Engineering and Planning in one building. This move will provide a one-stop-shop for construction and development and improve our internal coordination.


Speaking of these important departments I'd like to recognize them for their commitment customer service.


Just a few weeks ago the City was honoured to receive the 2010 Customer Service Award from the Grande Prairie Home Builders’ Association. For our staff to be recognized by such an important partner is very rewarding.


On a on a different topic, I'd like to cover some of the steps we've taken around advocating for our City and the Region.


The job of keeping Grande Prairie top of mind for Provincial decision makers is never ending and has to be a priority for the City.


Earlier this month, Council approved a schedule of twice yearly visits to the Alberta Legislature.


These will occur in Spring and Fall of each year for the balance of the term and will be in addition to our continued support of regional lobby efforts such as those led by the Chamber of Commerce.


I believe the objective of these kind of missions should be to proactively build relationships & increase communication with Provincial Ministers and departments.


We need to ensure that Grande Prairie's voice is heard and that our story is understood.


Some of our immediate priorities include; capital funding for Aquatera's Waste Water Treatment Plant improvements, construction of the new hospital, expansion at GPRC and support for new K-to-12 schools.


In all of this we recognize that our partners are important.


Immediately after the election council and I identified a number of community partners and regional municipalities that council wanted to meet with.


We have regular meetings with our partners at the County of Grande Prairie, the Chamber, our local school boards, GPRC, the Homebuilders’ Association, the Urban Developers Institute and many, many others in an effort to strengthen our understanding of the community and keep the lines of communication open.


In closing ...


It’s been my pleasure to update you on some of the challenges the city is facing, some of the key municipal initiatives coming up in the short term and to offer some insights into what the future holds.


I believe the best way council can contribute the continued progress of our community is to:

• Be a Willing & Accessible Community Partner
• Continue Working to Provide Excellent Service
• Openly Discuss the Challenges Facing our City
• Establish Clear Priorities and regularly report on our progress and finally,
• To Be Visionary by setting long-term goals that will guide our organization and our decision making.

The first few steps will happen in the coming weeks.


I'd ask you all to lend us your support as we proceed and I'll commit that we'll remain accessible & accountable to you as we move forward in building an excellent community that you can be proud of.


Thank you.

Cost of Community Services

One of the challenges we have is to ensure we have a good mix of different types of development in our community. Not only is important for forming a well-rounded city it also directly affects our bottom line.

Give this report (pdf download) from Red Deer County a quick once over. It looks at different land uses such as Residential, Industrial and Commercial and compares how much revenue each one brings in with how much it consumes in services.

The key concepts it outlines are; that Residential uses more in services than it provides in revenue; that Commercial roughly pays for itself and finally that Industrial basically subsidizes everything else.

Two really interesting sections:

Industrial – The Industrial land use appears to be a significant subsidizer of all other land uses. The low cost of this land use is more or less in line with other COCS studies. A sensitivity test of the “Power and Pipe” taxes, a significant source of the Industrial land use’s revenues, indicated that even without these revenues, the Industrial land use would still pay for itself in dramatic fashion.

and

It is significant to note that the Residential land use did not pay for itself in any scenario in this study, not even in the re-calculations done to make this study more comparable to previous studies. ... This effectively means that other land uses are subsidizing the level of service provided to the Residential land use.

Although the specifics would be slightly different for us I'm willing to bet that the fundamentals would be largely the same for any community in the province.

It goes to show that a community like GP with a majority of it's land used for residential development is not sustainable because we don't have enough industrial development to subsidize the service residential development demands.

Communities with significant "Power & Pipe" or linear tax sources are much better off.

Create The Future of GP's Parks & Trails

Do THIS survey.

One of Grande Prairie's greatest assets is our urban park system. We are so lucky to have a green-space like Muskoseepi that runs from one end of the city to the other. Recently I put forward a motion through the 100th Anniversary committee that would see the Expansion and Revitalization of Muskoseepi Park be the capital legacy project for the 100th Anniversary in 2014. (See Item #5 in this set of minutes)

On top of that we have a system of neighbourhood parks, trails and open spaces that spans the city and forms important transportation corridors.

But of course we're always looking to improve that system and a key step is finding out what is important to residents like you.

You can help us chart the future for our parks and open spaces by participating in our online survey right HERE.

The survey asks questions on everything from how you use trails to what kind of sports you might participate in, to what size of neighbourhood parks you'd like to see.

I've done the survey myself and it takes less than the 15 minutes it says.

Charting the Future of City Parks and Open Spaces

Grande Prairie residents can have a say in the future parks and open spaces in the City.

Until mid-March, citizens can provide input on the Parks & Open Space Master Plan User Survey. It explores a variety of issues involving parks, open spaces, and trails. Public input will be used to guide future improvement, development, maintenance, and management of Grande Prairie’s parks and open spaces.

In addition to the public survey, other opportunities are being planned for community members to share their thoughts and feedback in focus groups and open houses (dates are to be determined).

The Parks & Open Space Master Plan will guide the City in meeting the needs of the community over the next seven to 10 years. The plan is slated for completion in December. It will consider the future standards for parks and open spaces development and the delivery of services to parks, playgrounds, public green spaces, and outdoor recreational facilities within Grande Prairie.

An online version of the survey is available HERE. Questions can be directed to gp_surveyinfo@ sandalackassoc.ca.

“Parks are an integral part of the community,” says Lindsey Juniper, Parks Planner. “The public’s involvement in the survey and public houses will ensure our Parks and Open Spaces Master Plan reflects the needs and feedback of the community.”

Enquiries may be directed to:
Lindsey Juniper
Parks Planner
780.538.0499
ljuniper@ cityofgp.com