On Friday, August 18, the District of Sparwood hosted the grand opening of the revitalized Sparwood Centennial Plaza with a community celebration that brought residents and visitors together in the new outdoor space for the first time.

Sparwood Summerfest celebrated the opening of the Centennial Plaza, with a ribbon-cutting by dignitaries, as well as the Sparwood Market Kids’ Fest. The event featured a free barbecue and plenty of fun for the kids.

The revitalization project was funded through grants and donations, including $1 million from Teck, which also supported hosting for the event.

“We would like to extend a sincere ‘thank-you’ to Teck for the generous donation,” said Sparwood Mayor David Wilks.

“Teck is committed to creating lasting benefits in the communities where we operate and we’re proud to contribute to the development of Centennial Plaza in Sparwood,” said Robin Sheremeta, Senior Vice President, Coal, Teck. “We commend the District of Sparwood for completing this project which will be a centrepiece of the community to be enjoyed by all residents and visitors.”

The Plaza was designed with usability in mind, greenspace, seating, planters and an outdoor fire pit to allow the space to become a functional gathering area, which can be utilized for many community events and activities.

The Plaza was designed to be a safe, useable, and inclusive space for residents of all ages to enjoy, the district outlined.

Lighting upgrades have been included to add ambiance allowing the space to be inviting, even during periods of lower light, such as the winter and evenings.

Important historical elements of the space, such as the water spray gun and the memorial pillar, have been safely removed and will be incorporated in other locations within the community.

The Plaza will be transformed over the summer as visible items such as the shade structure, fire pit, trees, shrubs and seating are put into place.

Photos submitted

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