Construction is set to start on a new play space in Galt Gardens in June, 2023. (Photo: LNN)

By Justin Goulet

Construction of new Galt Gardens play space to start in June

May 30, 2023 | 1:47 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A new play space is coming to Galt Gardens in downtown Lethbridge.

Fencing is set to be put up in June for the construction of the Galt Gardens Inclusive and Accessible Play Space. The new amenity will be built immediately adjacent to the Rotary Centennial Fountain in the southeast corner of the four-hectare park.

The City of Lethbridge said it will consist of inclusive and accessible play equipment, rubber surfacing, plaza space and park furniture.

Crystal Scheit, Urban Revitalization Manager, said the City of Lethbridge obtained a grant through the Canadian Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF) of $375,000, “of which we were able to leverage some existing City funding to help to fund this amazing project that’s going to be constructed this summer.”

She added the park will be able “to help reactivate the space, bring in youth and it will be able to be utilized with all the different events that are happening within Galt Gardens and in the downtown.”

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The total cost of the project, according to the City of Lethbridge, is $662,000.

Scheit explained that it is more than 50 per cent funded by the CCRF grant. The remaining $287,000 is covered by a previously approved budget in Public Realm Enhancements for $152,000, plus $125,000 approved by Lethbridge City Council in the 2022-2031 Capital Improvement Program. Additionally, the project received $10,000 from the Kal-Tire Replay Fund.

The City of Lethbridge is aiming to have construction completed by mid-September 2023.

Scheit explained that the surface area around the play space will be the first section completed, “and there’s going to be some excavation, some moving of irrigation lines, those types of things, and then you’re going to start to see it take form with the mounds and the rubber surfacing and the play equipment, and then everything else will be tidied up and kind of completed around that.”

COMMUNITY CONCERNS

Scheit addressed some of the concerns from residents with the play area’s location in Galt Gardens.

She said, “There’s a lot of different aspects of that and things that the City is working on to try and address those problems with encampments and low-income housing and safe shelter space and those types of things and so, we have another department that’s been working on a lot of those strategies.”

“That being said, we do have security in the park from 10 [a.m.] to 10 [p.m.] and that helps mitigate some of those problems. We have seen, you know, families come and utilize the fountain here in Rotary Square, and with the revitalization of 3 Avenue, it has brought a lot more positive activity into the downtown and we recently just approved 23 events through our Re-Imagine Activation Grant that was available, so that’s 23 events that will be happening in the downtown,” Scheit stated.

She added, “When you kind of bring in that positive activity, then that helps to drive out some of the negative activity. I don’t think it’s something that we can address fully, but we’re doing everything that we can to re-activate the space, you know, along Main Street and in the park here.”

DOWNTOWN BRZ

Sarah Amies, Executive Director for the Downtown Lethbridge Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ) said the play space will provide another option for family entertainment.

She stated, “The establishment of this playground will help us realize even more that the downtown is a destination for everybody to come live, work and play.”

A community advisory committee, comprised of representatives from the Downtown BRZ, the Heart of Our City Committee, Casa, SAAG, the Rotary Club of Lethbridge, and Lethbridge Plays, was consulted for design ideas for the play space.

A design of the new play space in Galt Gardens. (Photo: City of Lethbridge)

Amies remarked that having equipment and a space that is accessible and inclusive is “fabulous”.

“It means that regardless of your ability, your age, you can come and hang out and enjoy some of the fabulous aspects of the play space,” she said.

“It not only will have structures that kids can play on, it will have sensory aspects to it, there will be interactive aspects, so there will be something for everybody, really, in the play space.”

Amies added, “We’re reclaiming the park, revitalizing the park, and to have this play space right next to the Rotary Square Fountain [creates] an awesome day-long destination for families to come and hang out in the park and play.”

READ MORE: City of Lethbridge to construct new play space in Galt Gardens

READ MORE: City of Lethbridge supports location and security of play space in Galt Gardens

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