Avondale area (photo courtesy of the City of Grande Prairie)

By Liam Verster

Avondale Area Plan

Public consultations to be held on Avondale area redevelopment concepts

Oct 24, 2020 | 6:00 AM

The City of Grande Prairie will be holding in-person and online public consultations in November, to gather feedback on plans for the redevelopment of the Avondale area once the new Composite High School is complete.

The draft concept currently has the City planning to redevelop the area in three phases, with a short, a medium and a long term plan already conceived.

“In the short term, once the new high school is built… the intention is to tear down the old Composite High School,” says Dan Whelton, Senior Planner for the City. “And the pool portion of the Leisure Centre has essentially been condemned, it’s not safe, and that will be knocked down. So, what the short term concept shows is that area just becomes sports fields.”

The short term plan also includes some road realignments and storm water improvements.

Draft of the short term concept (City of Grande Prairie)

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The medium-term concept would see the indoor soccer field building demolished, and a new recreation centre built in the area.

Draft of the medium term concept (City of Grande Prairie)

Whelton says the third phase of the plan won’t come into effect for many decades, as it will happen after the Peace Wapiti Academy is no longer in a useable condition, and a new replacement school has been built.

“Once the Peace Wapiti Academy building is no longer there, the long-term concept shows the development of some multi-family and some commercial [spaces] up towards 116 Avenue,” says Whelton. “And it also shows the connection of 105 Street, which is deWit Drive, it shows that being extended up to 116 Avenue and that road connection occurring.”

Draft of the long term concept (City of Grande Prairie)

The City has already held engagement sessions with the surrounding landowners and stakeholders, and they now wish to gather more feedback from the general public on these three concepts, which can be seen at the City’s engagement page.

The City will hold in-person engagement sessions on November 3 and 4 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Ernie Radbourne pavilion in Muskoseepi Park. The sessions will take 45 minutes each. Attendance is limited to 15 people at a time, and the City asks that those interested in attending register in advance.

On November 5, the City will hold a Zoom session from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Those who wish to call in to that session must also register in advance in order to receive the link to the call.

The City is also accepting written feedback on the three draft concepts through the engagement page.