Ponoka citizens are invited to stop by the Town of Ponoka’s trade show booth on April 8 and 9 to provide their input and ideas on conceptual plans for an expanded skateboard park and a new dog park being planned for Ponoka.
Citizens will also have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the planning and design process for the two parks. The town’s booth will be part of the annual Ponoka Trade Show at the Ponoka Arena Complex.
Town staff will continue gathering input and ideas from the public until the end of May through a survey that will be posted on the town’s website in April following the trade show.
“There has been a lot of demand and interest expressed by Ponoka citizens over the years for a new dog park and improvements to our current skateboard park,” said chief administrative officer Sandra Lund in a press release.
“We are excited to launch the design development process for these park improvements to begin moving these projects forward.”
Skateboard park expansion
Conceptual plans for the expanded skateboard park could see the existing Hamilton Skate Park extended south to include the space currently occupied by the former Town of Ponoka recycling yard. The sidewalk in front of the park would also be extended south to connect with the pedestrian bridge that crosses over the Battle River and connects with the river valley trail system.
New dog park
The proposed location of the new dog park is on the east side of 49 St. on recently acquired land across from the Town of Ponoka Publics Work yard.
Conceptual plans for the new dog park include a new parking lot and trail extension that would connect with the north trailhead of the Battle River Valley Trail System at the green bridge.
Design development process
Once public input is gathered on the conceptual plans for the two parks, the town will create more detailed designs based on the input received, which will then be presented to the public for feedback later in the year.
Construction of the new dog park and expanded skateboard park will depend on future consideration and approval of the facility designs, location and budgets by town council.
Both projects align with council’s strategic priorities of enhancing quality of life for Ponoka citizens through improvements to recreational amenities.
Planning and design development of the two parks is also based on recommendations in the Town of Ponoka’s Downtown Action Plan and Recreation Master Plan.