Gravel pits to become recreational area

Dec 15, 2017 | 4:30 AM

The County of Grande Prairie says public support for the idea means a couple gravel pits will be converted into recreational areas.

The support was gathered through an online survey and a public open house.

Parks & Recreation Manager Christine Rawlins says the pits are in a 130-hectare patch east of Highway 40 and north of the Wapiti River.

” (It) would include low-impact outdoor recreation activities and that could be anything from a day-use area with picnic benches and playground through to a toboggan hill, perhaps a mountain bike park, perhaps an off-leash dog park, any number of low-impact activities.”

Rawlins says they are working with user groups on what features will be included. There will not be anything for motorized vehicles.

“That’s something that’s mandated by the province because it has been identified as an environmentally sensitive area. Certainly, there has been some motorized activities happening there, up until this point, but once the County would sign off on the recreation lease, we would certainly want to be honouring the province’s wishes in terms of keeping it a non-motorized area.”

The work will be done in phases as one of the pits is still being used.

“We would hope to do, perhaps, some groundwork, mid-way (or) later in 2018 and hope to have some basic amenities available for the public to use in the spring/summer of 2019,” adds Rawlins.

by Curtis Galbraith