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City considering options for Iron Horse Trail staging area

The Iron Horse Trail staging area has been described as having "a lot of potential," and Cold Lake is brainstorming what the future holds for the site.
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The City of Cold Lake is planning a makeover of the Iron Horse Trail staging area.

The Iron Horse Trail staging area has been described as having "a lot of potential," and Cold Lake is brainstorming what the future holds for the site.

Prior to budget deliberations, city council directed staff to hire landscape architect George Harris to come up with some options for a piece of land that marks the beginning or the end of the Iron Horse Trail.

Harris is the same architect council brought on for the Kinosoo Beach Enhancement Project.

During their latest corporate priorities meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 15, Harris outlined the possibilities for the location.

“When I was asked to look at this project, I was very excited to have the opportunity again to work in Cold Lake, until I looked at the site and realized how daunting the project was,” he laughed.

CAO Kevin Nagoya stressed the presentation was only a concept and nothing had been confirmed for the site at this time.

“We still have to get some public feedback and there are some steps that we need to take in order to see what council would like to see in this space as we do in any other master plan we develop."

The master plan Harris and his team created consists of four distinct zones.

Harris described how each area has different features that play off of something "unique to Cold Lake."

“That site is about 800-metres long, and it’s a linear park, so the idea was that we needed to do something that had a centre of activity and as you went away from the centre your experiences would change,” he detailed.

The overall project could include features such as a skating path, skate rental, repair shop, Crokinole curling, a ski cable park, change rooms, parking space for trail users, snow volleyball, a promenade where markets could be held, fire pits, and a ski jump, among others.

What Harris has visioned for the area is a prairie-minded winter park, keeping in mind that it could also be utilized in the summer.

For example, the skating track could be used for biking and rollerblading.

The staging area, which is located closes to the entrance of the trail, would include a horse stable, a food market, and maybe a mechanic shop.

Harris described the staging area as "the hub" of the site.

“Our team was very excited about the potential of this site,” he emphasized.

The city used the Halifax Oval as an example of the type of facility they would like to see. It includes a skating track and skate rentals.

Council liked the idea of turning this area into a destination.

"It's a great location," Coun. Kirk Soroka expressed.

Coun. Vicky Lefebvre agreed, "I really like it."

Before moving forward, council will schedule an open house where residents can provide their input about the space.

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