New park, hotel planned for Battleford

While the park will be located near the new residential subdivision, along what’s known as Telegraph Road, it will be accessible to all families in the Battleford community.

The developer that is creating the park itself, is also looking after the utilities servicing for the property.

“Anytime you can provide that form of recreation or give an avenue for kids to be outside and enjoy time together and meeting their neighbours is always as asset in any community,” said Leslie. “Our hope is to have that park designed, built, and in place for this summer. We’ll see if that goal can be met. That is definitely the plan and the money is in the budget.”

Leslie said the new park will provide families living in the area a place to “safely play,” go outside and enjoy some activities. He added if children needed to access a park now they would have to cross a highway, so having the new park near the new subdivision will add to community safety.

Dean Kupchanko, president of Battleford West Properties Ltd., is involved in developing the subdivision project and the new park itself, while the town is developing the playground area and seasonal skating rink for the park.

There are also a number of walking trails in the area as part of the project.

“The land was mine but I dedicated it as municipal reserve,” Kupchanko said, adding he maintains it and planted all the trees.

He is glad to see the town is now doing its part. “It’s really quite lovely,” said Kupchanko.

The developer is also part of a group of investors looking at future plans to develop a new hotel in the next two years.

Kupchanko said they have land available and the financing for the project, but are just waiting for the economy to improve before starting work. He said as reflected in the provincial budget, the province is going through an economic slump and that has an impact on the hotel industry. Currently hotels in both Saskatchewan and Alberta have high vacancy rates, so as soon as the market improves the investor group will be able to proceed with the project.

Kupchanko said currently there isn’t a hotel in the town of Battleford but the need is there, especially as the community continues to grow.

“Once the market improves and we make a decision to go ahead, we can make a decision on that fairly easily,” said Kupchanko.” We’re looking at 85 rooms. I think you’ll see it under construction in Battleford in the next two years.”

At the current time, visitors need to stay at hotels in North Battleford so he hopes to offer them an opportunity to stay right in the town when the hotel is developed. The plan is to have the hotel as a brand name business so the investors will be working to bring in a recognized name when they are ready to start the project.

Mayor Leslie is looking forward to seeing a new hotel come to Battleford also.

“It’s would be a nice addition to the town, for visitors here to visit family, or if they are here for hockey tournaments or ball tournaments it would be nice to provide them with accommodations such as a hotel,” he said. “It would be great to see in the town of Battleford.”

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW

by Angela Brown

New park, hotel planned for Battleford

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