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Enhancements continuing for Idlewild Park
Community groups and City of Cranbrook staff continue to move ahead with implementing more initiatives in the newly redeveloped Idlewild Park in 2019.
Projects underway this year include the development of a nine-hole disc golf course in conjunction with the East Kootenay Disc Golf Club, the Idlewild Ridge Trail project in conjunction with the Cranbrook Rotary Club and JCI Kootenay, the reconstruction of the Firefighters Gazebo undertaken by the Cranbrook Professional Fire Fighters Local 1253, a bench art installation by Paul Reimer funded by the Columbia Basin Trust Public Arts Grant, ongoing habitat restoration work in conjunction with Columbia Outdoor School, and the replacement of the single zip line, with a new double track zipline funded by the Cranbrook Rotary Club and Western Financial Group.
Smaller amenities such as picnic tables, benches and barbecue areas will also see upgrades.
“The importance of this park to our residents and partners is evident in how quickly this project has moved forward from the master planning process. What we are achieving in three years, would normally have been part of a five to ten-year plan,” said Chris New, Director of Corporate Wide Initiatives.
Over the past three years, the park has gone through an impressive transformation with the replacement of the dam, the addition of paved trails, washrooms, gazebos, playground, fishing piers and habitat enhancements.
Many groups and agencies have contributed to the success of this initiative, including the federal and provincial governments, the Regional District of the East Kootenay, College of the Rockies, Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC, Cranbrook Rotary Club, Columbia Outdoor School and Blue Lake Forest Society. Several other funding agencies, corporations and contractors have also made contributions and will be recognized at a grand opening of the park which a date will be announced soon.
Park visitors are reminded that certain areas of the park may be closed off during different phases of construction. Further, the lower field area adjacent to the horse-riding arena and amphitheater, will remain closed while restoration of the grassed area is complete.
Lead image: Members of Cranbrook Fire & Emergency Services volunteering their time Friday May 3, helping to upgrade the gazebo at Idlewild Lake. Photo courtesy City of Cranbrook
City of Cranbrook.
