Residents and visitors to the City of Cranbrook will soon be able to enjoy the restored and enhanced Idlewild Lake and park areas thanks to a project that will rehabilitate the Idlewild Dam. The work is being completed thanks to $2.8 million provided through the federal Gas Tax Fund.

The project is about to break ground and will take approximately three years to complete. It will include the rehabilitation of the dam and spillway, along with recreational and shoreline improvements to the park.

A Parks Master Plan is also being created to formalize the upgrades to the recreational features of the park. This plan will take into consideration input from a 2015 Idlewild Park community survey that received over 1,000 public responses.

The Government of Canada provides more than $266 million in indexed annual funding for municipal infrastructure in British Columbia through the federal Gas Tax Fund. The majority of this funding is allocated to municipalities who decide which projects will address their local priorities. They can spend, pool, bank or use their annual allocation to finance loans related to eligible infrastructure or capacity building projects. The Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) administers the Gas Tax Fund in B.C., in partnership with Canada and British Columbia.

“The City of Cranbrook is very appreciative of this funding provided from the federal Gas Tax fund. I would especially like to thank the city and UBCM staff who put a lot of time and effort into the preparation of the funding request. Thank you to the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett and to the Union of BC Municipalities. Once the dam is rebuilt and the surrounding park improved, it will provide residents with many years of enjoyment and various activities,” stated Cranbrook Mayor Lee Pratt, who was joined by council members, Regional District of East Kootenay, UBCM, Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett and city administrative staff this afternoon at the park.

“Through the federal Gas Tax Fund, the Government of Canada is allowing communities in British Columbia, and across Canada, to make informed decisions about their infrastructure investments and how best to spend federal dollars. The Idlewild Dam rehabilitation project will better protect the local environment and will open up improved recreational opportunities in an area that has been cherished by residents for so many years,” Pratt stated, on behalf of Amarjeet Sohi, federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.

“Idlewild is one of my family’s favourite relaxation spots in Cranbrook. When the dam holding back our beautiful trout pond was deemed unsafe, I promised Mayor Pratt that I would do all I could to help find the funds to restore the dam and the pond. I am grateful to UBCM and the federal government for their support,” he said.

RDEK board chair and Electoral Area C Director Rob Gay said the regional government is contributing $500,000 to the project, also from Gas Tax Funds, and is pleased that taxpayers won’t face additional taxation in order to pay for it.

RDEK Electoral Area F Director, vice-chair and UBCM board member Wendy Booth pointed out that dam replacement is a priority for many communities in British Columbia.

“I am pleased to see the support provided by the Federal Gas Tax Fund for this project will rehabilitate Idlewild Park,” she said on behalf of Al Richmond, UBCM President.

Pictured above: Local, regional and provincial government members attended a brief sod turning ceremony at Cranbrook’s Idlewild Park this afternoon, heralding the announcement of funding and beginning of work to rehabilitate the small dam and lake-side park. Pictured left to right: City of Cranbrook CAO David Kim, city councillors Ron Popoff and Wes Graham, RDEK board chair Rob Gay, RDEK board vice-chair and representing UBCM Wendy Booth, Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett, Cranbrook Mayor Lee Pratt and city councillors Tom Shypitka and Norma Blissett. Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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