The Town of Okotoks is looking for feedback on potential designs for two park spaces in town.

Two surveys have been launched, with design concepts to be voted on by residents.

One is for the Ethel Tucker Centennial Park Place Space located near the Okotoks Arts & Learning Campus (ALC).

The park was the subject of some controversy in early 2020 when trees were being removed from the original space to make way for the ALC.

Ethel Tucker Park will now be located behind the original library and will connect to the pathway and the ALC's courtyard.

A map of the Ethel Tucker Park area from the Town of Okotoks website. It should be noted that the area labelled 'LIBRARY' refers to the former library, not the new one.

The area will include a 'playable art piece,' with residents asked to weigh in on the two potential designs.

There's a ground squirrel and a buffalo, both tying into the Blackfoot story of Napi and the Ohkotok.

The survey will determine which of the two designs will be utilized.

Parks technician Bridget Couban says a meeting of ALC shareholders determined the art and play nature of the structures.

"The town also required Indigenous elements be included as part of our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, so the place they set Ethel Tucker is going to be a unique feature, but it is still designed for play and learning."

According to the town, both designs included input from Indigenous partners and a descendant of Ethel Tucker.

Both pieces include climbing structures and other play features.

Several peace poles will also be installed in the area, using beams from the former Creamery building.

There's also a survey out for the upcoming play structure at Rich's Playground in Sheep River Park.

The town conducted a survey in April of last year to determine what style of structure they wanted, with residents choosing a 'Nature-Based' structure.

Three designs can be seen on the town's website, all sharing the nature-based theme to different degrees.

"Each of the design options to varying degrees will have more natural material components, so you'll see in some designs there'll be the log climbers, log piles, and log structures, and then one of the designs has a few natural material components but more nature-themed elements, so some structures that are more manufactured but with a nature theme," says Couban.

Both surveys will be available until Feb. 15.

Both the Ethel Tucker Park survey and the Rich's Playground survey can be found on the town's website.

 

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