Campaign Launched to Add Finishing Touches to Cenotaph Park

With work scheduled to begin on the second phase of the community cenotaph parkette, a campaign has now been launched to raise cash and in-kind donations for the third and final phase.

David Usherwood, chair of the Legion cenotaph revitalization committee. says they are seeking approximately $30,000 in a combination of in-kind and cash donations to add the finishing touches. It will include benches, garbage cans, custom-designed fencettes, drought-resistant sod, landscaping and educational components.

While some commitments have been made for in-kind materials and assistance, including the town and landscaping companies, some cash contributions will also be required.

The last final phase will add the features that ties the whole project together, explains Todd Puzey, who originally brought the idea to the Legion in November 2016.

"As my grandmother use to say, you always make the cake before you put the icing on; there's an order to things. So Phase Three is basically the icing on the cake. All the bling, all the fancy little things that will make this park really special will be in phase three."

All funds have been depleted to complete the first two phases, says Usherwood, and this little extra is required to bring the entire vision to fruition.

"It's all very positive. Am I concerned that we are going to be able to complete it? No. The community has been very supportive of this project."

A total of $50,000 in funding was provided by the federal and provincial governments towards phase two and has been combined with a few surplus funds from phase one to cover the $52,000 cost. Phase One cost $134,200 and included the major revamping of the cenotaph itself that now features a stunning 7-ft. bronze of a First War World One soldier in a memorial pose. The new cenotaph bronze was unveiled by Alberta Lieutenant-Governor Lois Mitchell, assisted by Cochrane Mayor Jeff Genung, in a ceremony in late October, just in time for November's Remembrance Day ceremony.

Preliminary work on the paving stone walkways is scheduled to begin this week, weather permitting, and a crew from OnGrowing Works will likely be onsite next week to start the installation.

The paths will be five ft. wide including the flat concrete curbs, explains Terry Norman, executive director of OnGrowing Works, and will be charcoal grey in colour, similar to the revamped cenotaph and concrete previously poured.

The area in front of the cenotaph will be wider than five feet to better accommodate ceremonies held there.

Norman says weather is a factor but expects the project to be completed by the end of February. He believes the renewed activity at the parkette will help encourage businesses and people to step forward to help add the finishing touches.

People are asked to be cautious in the area while construction is underway but are also encouraged to watch as the enhancement continues to unfold.

The Legion hopes to complete work on phase three in the spring, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony in mid-June.

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