News | DrumhellerMail

Grant application submitted for John Anderson diamond replacement

    As construction work is underway for the Badlands Community Facility, and with the John Anderson Park diamond no longer useable, a location for its replacement is now being looked into and rebuilding the diamond situated in Rosedale has been proposed.
    With this in mind, the Town of Drumheller recently applied for a grant via the Municipal Sponsorship Program.
    If approved, the grant would be for $73,791. With capital cost estimated at $347,629 and expected inkind contributions of $137,717, an additional funding of $136,121 will remain to be found.
    The project is therefore expected to be completed in phases, with further grants being obtained in 2010 and 2011.
    Originally, the town had proposed for a replacement diamond to be created at the Newcastle Recreation area, however, Al Kendrick, director of Infrastructure Services explains, “the Rosedale diamond is not in the best condition now, we have done some work with it, it’s difficult to get people to use it...because of the condition it is in.”
    Kendrick also attributes the lack of use due to children getting involved into different activities nowadays, such as soccer.
    He also believes the implicatons from council is that they want to have recreation facilities serving the easterly portion of the community as well as the west side of town.

With the community hall and skating rink in close proximity to the diamond together with green areas and closeby campground, it is hoped that rebuilding the diamond may draw people to use it more.

    Although a new diamond at Newcastle Recreation Park is still an option and once the funding is secured, the logistics will be looked at again.
    Kendrick is hoping to hear about the funding by the end of March, but warns the funding process can take longer so it may be that work will need to wait until the fall to begin in order not to disturb it during the season when it will be utilized.
    If the funding doesn’t come through, Kendrick confirmed the diamond will be maintained as is.

More racing for Ag Society in coming year

The Drumheller and District Agriculture Society has a full slate of events planned this season including more racing.
    The society held its Annual General Meeting on January 12. The society is planning to attain International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) certification in its racing track. This means the society may be hosting four high profile racing events.
    Duxbury, who was installed as president of the Ag Society at the meeting, says the IMCA is an international sanctioning body, and in Drumheller, they will have two classes of racing.
    “We will have our hobby stock cars as an entry level racing, and then we’ll have the IMCA stack cars and the IMCA modified Stock car classes,” said Duxbury. “We do have a couple local racers with IMCA modified cars, and we do have a couple with IMCA stock cars.”
    The society also has a commitment from the Alberta Outlaw Modified Racing Association for an event.
    The Ag Society had a successful 2009 season. It hosted a number of events including the Dinosaur Derby. Despite a rainout, the society was able to keep the demo derby tradition alive with a one-day event. This year also saw the introduction of the Tractor Pull and Trade Show.
    They have established a relationship with Drumheller Gymnastics and hope to build on hat partnership in the future.
    Despite these successes, Duxbury says the Ag Society did find itself in the red. The major reason was the lack of revenue through sponsorship at the Dino Derby, as well as capital investments on the facility. The Stampede Barn last year received a freshening up with a coat of paint, improvements to the kitchen, plumbing work, and major work on the track and barn areas was completed.
    He is confident the society will be able to pull ahead financially this year. As it was a more active Agriculture Society, its annual bursary will be increased. The society has also been able to secure a casino.
    At the AGM, Larry Duxbury has succeeded Gerry McLean as president of the Ag Society while Mike Hansen is first vice president, Gord MacKinnon is second vice president, Trevor Fabick is treasurer, and recording secretary is Melanie Fabick. McLean sits on the executive as past president.
    Duxbury says the society is always welcoming to volunteers that wish to join the society, or volunteer for events. For more information 403-823-9339.

Parallel parking best option says mayor

    Mayor Bryce Nimmo says even if the issue of parking is reopened, there are not many options available to the town to make any more changes.
    On November 9 of last year, Drumheller Town Council passed the controversial parking changes that have paved the way for angle parking to be replaced with parallel parking on 3rd Avenue. Recently concerned downtown merchants launched a campaign to pressure council to reverse its decision. Mayor Nimmo says there are not too many options left for council.
    “There always is the possibility (to reopen it), but what I say is ‘what are you going to do?’” he said. “This is the best solution we have.”
    He says, despite what some say, there was more traffic congestion this summer after the bridge changes were made. While he concedes the worst case scenario of travel trailers and campers bottle necking the core were not realized, there were more issues.
    “All you need to see is people trying to back out of stalls, people lined up to the Napier Theatre trying to go west, and when you are driving down the street and don’t know if someone is going to be backing out at you, that is what I’m saying,” said Nimmo.
    He says the changes were part of the negotiation for amalgamation years ago. Because the province has jurisdiction over the highways, and made the decision to change the bridge, it has affected the traffic flow.
    “We have just gone up in traffic. We came up with a decision that not everyone is happy with, but I think in the end it will move the traffic,” said Nimmo.
    Some local businesses have hinted that if the changes stand, they could relocate. He says businesses need to adapt to the new reality rather than pulling up stakes.
    “Don’t play the game with the card you wish you were dealt, play the game with the cards you have, and play it the best you can,” he said. “Moving to another table isn’t necessarily going to be a lot better than where you are sitting.”
    “I don’t see an exodus, hopefully I just see innovations.”
    He says Drumheller continues to be vibrant and as it grows, traffic is only going to increase.
    “The future is that we are going to end up with more cars,” he said.

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