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Central park getting an $89,000 overhaul

Jul 6, 2016 | 5:40 PM

Something exciting is about to happen in North Battleford’s downtown core.

The city’s 50-year-old central park will be receiving an overhaul, courtesy of an $89,000 grant provided by the Federated Co-op Community Spaces program.

Lisa Kissick of the North Battleford Business Improvement District (NBBID), along with Mayor Ian Hamilton and General Director of Discovery Co-op, Mike Nord, made the announcement to the crowd of spectators who had stopped by for a burger and a musical performance by the city’s own Jeremy Grey.

Though the actual plans for the layout are still in the making, the space will be taking on a “multi-seasonal” dimension, Kissick said.

The space will have room for a stage and kiosks when there are outdoor concerts or festivals held in the summer time. The plan also intends to make room for an outdoor skating rink to be used when the weather cools. The fountain well is also going to be replaced with something safer and more eye-catching according to Kissick.

She said the new plans for the park will provide more opportunity for people to enjoy the downtown space with a freshly incorporated “activity-based” plan.

“The question is: how can we make this function better? How can we take this broken down fountain and turn it in to a functional space?” Kissick said, describing potential renovations.

“To be able to tear out something that is no longer functional for our community and put in something new that everyone can use- this is just step one of all the great things that are going to be happening downtown,” she said.

Addressing the crowd, Hamilton explained why it was important to transform the park from its current condition.

“Most of us have enjoyed this park for many, many years but it’s going to be more utilitarian. There will be a lot more activity around here and this will be a go-to place,” he said.

The grant to renovate the park was one of three dozen distributed to various communities across western Canada. Kissick said the grant was the second largest by a substantial margin.

The renovations are expected to start in mid-August.

–Editor’s note: This story was edited on Thursday, July 7 at 1:24 p.m. to correct an error. The organization in question is called the North Battleford Business Improvement District (NBBID), Mike Nord is the General Director of Discovery Co-op and renovations will begin mid-August.

Colleen A.J. Smith is battlefordsNOW’s education, First Nations and arts and culture reporter. She can be reached at colleen.smith@jpbg.ca or tweet her @ColleenAJSmith. Concerns regarding this story can be addressed to News Director Geoff Smith at 306-446-6397.