Ponoka Town council reviewed a conceptual drawing of the proposed Ponoka Visitor Information Centre during their May 13 meeting.
This first drawing of the centre in the long awaited project will now be reviewed by the Ponoka and District Chamber of Commerce and the Ponoka Stampede Association. It is hoped that the chamber will be a partner in running the Visitor Information Centre and the Ponoka Stampede Association.
The town has the funds for the project including $100,000 from a provincial grant, $100,000 in town reserves and $100,000 that was budgeted this year.
The council was pleased with the preliminary drawing and councilor Marg Barr thought it was a good drawing to get the project off the ground.
“We have to double-check the size and some of the places we visited were too small. The front was very homey and inviting with the veranda but that doesn’t mean that’s what it will look like,” said Barr.
The proposed centre measures 28x48 feet with a six-foot veranda totaling 1,400 square feet. The inside shows two sides; one for the chamber and one for tourist information, a kitchen, bathrooms and a janitor/mechanical area.
Brad Watson, chief administrative officer for the Town of Ponoka thinks that it is realistic that the Visitor Information Centre can be completed by the end of 2008. He thinks factors influencing the time line with the greatest significance/impact are the time line of decision making.
“I think the hold ups to this long debated plan have always been design and location. There is a very strong leaning towards the town owned parcel of land adjacent to the mini golf in Centennial park, recognizing that location may not be the absolute best now or in the future. The centre structure being considered is a modular type that can allow the building to be relocated,” said Watson.
Other location options that have been discussed are on the Ponoka Stampede Grounds, where the current tourist centre is, which is owned by the Ponoka Stampede Association and on Hwy 53 the entranceway to the community, which is not land owned by the town.
Barr says that the goal is that it would be started in 2008 but it depends on the industry she says. The spring of 2009 would be optimal for opening as well but given the industry that might be a bit optimistic
Different members of the town council have visited different tourists centers in Central Alberta including Lacombe, Leduc, Vermilion, Stettler and researched with different towns as well.
“We want to get input from other towns as well on what working arrangements work for them and size. Arrangements like that still need to be worked out for Ponoka,” said Barr.
She thinks that it is important to have a Visitor Information Centre in the town to welcome visitors in.
“It seems that there are more people going through town all the time, Hwy 2A seems to be busier and it is nice to have people stop. If we have an attractive Visitor Information Centre people will stop and visit our attractions and take a walk around our parks.”
The three groups involved will now take a closer look at the drawing and meet again with suggestions to improve the centre.