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PREMIER LOUGHEED OPENS WASKASOO PARK 'JEWEL' : 1984

Written By: Michael Dawe
Published By: Red Deer Advocate Centennial Book
Article Used with permission. © Copyright Michael Dawe and the Red Deer Advocate, 2007
2007-01-01

Premier Lougheed opens Waskasoo Park \

On July 12, 1984, Premier Peter Lougheed officially opened Waskasoo Park.

Stretching more than 12 kilometres from Fort Normandeau and the Old Timers Picnic Grounds in the west to the large river bend and flats northeast of the city, the park was so large that the official opening ceremonies took place at two different locations.

The first ceremony occurred at Heritage Ranch on the southwestern corner of the park.

The second was at Bower Ponds in the north centre portion of the park development.

After unveiling the plaque at Heritage Ranch, Premier Lougheed jumped on a bicycle and rode to the Bower Ponds site.

It was an effective way of symbolizing the park project as a way of promoting healthy lifestyles and enjoyment of the outdoors.

The origins of the park actually went back to 1908, when Red Deer began acquiring, through donation and purchase, tracts of parkland along the Red Deer River as well as Waskasoo and Piper Creek.

Additional land was acquired after the post World-War-One real estate bust, when many properties were forfeited for non-payment of taxes.

In 1974, the Red Deer Regional Planning Commission proposed that a major river valley park should be developed, extending through the whole city and outwards into the adjacent rural areas.

This plan, dubbed the River Valley Concept, was approved in principle by both the city and county councils. However, there were not the funds available to proceed.

In 1979, Mayor Ken Curle and other government officials went to Edmonton to discuss the future of provincially owned land on the west side of West Park.

They asked if provincial funding might be available for the River Valley Concept.

The provincial government responded that it was in the process of developing a major new urban parks policy.

Funds were to be provided to Calgary and Edmonton for what would eventually become known as the Fish Creek and Capital City Provincial Parks.

However, the premier and cabinet felt that the initiative should be extended to the smaller urban centres in the province.

In June 1981, the provincial government announced an urban parks program for Red Deer, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Lloydminster and Medicine Hat.

Funding was to come from the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund, with Red Deer’s share set at $23 million.

Red Deer enthusiastically embraced the initiative.

Work began almost immediately on a concept plan followed by a master plan.

The planners wanted to make sure that the new park system reflected what the public wanted.

Hence, 50,000 questionnaires were circulated around the community and a series of public and group meetings were held.

When the master plan was presented for approval to Red Deer city and county councils in August 1982, there was confidence that the plans accurately reflected the wishes of the community.

A number of park nodes were to be developed.

Fort Normandeau was to be an historical interpretation centre; Heritage Ranch an equestrian centre; Bower Ponds a major summer and winter recreational facility; Great West Adventure Park and Three Mile Bend special recreation sites; MacKenzie Trail a major hiking and picnic area and River Bend the site of a public golf course.

The Gaetz Lakes Sanctuary was to be preserved as a wilderness area and natural history interpretation centre.

Large natural areas were to be preserved throughout the park as an essential feature of the project.

Even before provincial funding began to flow to the city, work began on an extensive trails network that would provide continuous links throughout the park.

Much of the initial funding came from a matching grant provided by the Devonian Foundation.

The walking, biking and cross-country ski trails became the most popular feature of the new park system.

Although Waskasoo Park officially opened in July 1984, work on various components of the park continued for many years to come.

According to Craig Curtis, one of the key planners in the project, the park was designed "to be a whole system that can be expanded as the city grows."

In an editorial published in the Red Deer Advocate on July 14, 1984, Waskasoo Park was described as “a jewel” and “Peter Lougheed’s gift to the region that will keep on giving.”

The Advocate predicted that “the legacy of exceptional planning – and incredibly generous funding – will extend well into the future.”

The editorial concluded by stating “Waskasoo Park makes an attractive city an exceptional place to live.”

This article was written by Michael Dawe for the Red Deer Advocate’s Centennial Book. The Heritage Community Foundation would like to thank Michael Dawe and the Red Deer Advocate for permission to reprint these materials online. Please visit the Red Deer Advocate online.The images in the article are part of the collection of the Red Deer Archives. Please visit them online.

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