The Town of Ponoka released its 2019 annual report to the community last month.
The report details what the town sees as its main accomplishments and milestones over the past year.
“The Town of Ponoka looks forward to building off of these accomplishments and continuing to move our community forward with new achievements to celebrate in the year ahead,” said Ponoka Mayor Rick Bonnett in the release.
Bonnett added that the town’s staff, along with community volunteers and members of boards and committees work hard to ensure Ponoka is a “place we are all proud to call home.”
Some of the highlights of the report include the expanded green cart program, the grand opening of the civic centre, the joint Canada Winter Games sponsorship with the Ponoka Stampede Association, $12 million in new construction values, splash park upgrades, infrastructure renewal and replacement, Aquaplex and park improvements, and the implementation of the Downtown Action Plan.
The town saw more than $12 million of new commercial, industrial, institutional and residential construction initiated in 2019.
The splash park received major upgrades last summer, resulting in increased hours of operation and enhanced user experience. It was noted during town council’s regular meeting on Sept. 8 that there were no service interruptions this season.
Projects under the downtown action plan continued in 2019, with the creation of new park designs for Central Park and the Old Hospital Rotary Park.
Design work was also started for improvements to 51 Ave. and a Civic Plaza, located adjacent to the provincial building on the old town hall site.
The town replaced underground and surface infrastructure on 52 Ave. (between 50 and 51 St.), as well as numerous paving and concrete improvements throughout the community.
A three-year road rehabilitation project in the southwest industrial park was also started in 2019.
The town hosted several community events in 2019, including Family Day festivities at the arena and aquaplex, and the fifth annual Ponoka Day in the Park, and sponsored the Snow Much Family Fun event that was part of the Ponoka Festival of Trees.
The full report is posted on www.ponoka.ca.