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Do our parks 'miss the mark'?
This online discussion forum has been suspended pending the next draft of the Plan. You can still browse the site but the discussion area will not currently accept new comments or votes.
Some people feel that Heritage Ranch ‘misses the mark’ because of its equestrian focus and isolated location. How can we improve our existing parks so that they remain relevant and useable for Red Deerians and tourists?
(Please add your comment and/or vote)
This online discussion forum has been suspended pending the next draft of the Plan. You can still browse the site but the discussion area will not currently accept new comments or votes.
Comment 1 15 Apr 2010, 9:45 AM
yes it does miss the mark. we do not need the horses and all the up keep to look after them. the field should be turned into an rv park to attract tourists to stay and enjoy our city and with out the horsemanure smell everywhere people would enjoy the fresh air and walks,and having an awesome camp fire with the view. there is a shortage of rv camps now that people are staying closer to home
Comment 1.1 26 Apr 2010, 11:11 AM
When the land was first aquired, a lot of good people spoke against developing the area at all. The horse ranch may not be profitable, but replacing it with a tacky RV park doesn't seem like progress.
Never the less, your point about a shortage of campground space is quite valid.
Comment 2 16 Apr 2010, 7:22 PM
There is nowhere else in the city where parents can take their kids to see or be around horses. What is there fits this purpose. There needs to be less development, not more.
The whole purpose of the place is to get out and walk, run, cycle or the like. Keep the development for the amusement parks elsewhere.
Comment 3 26 May 2010, 1:56 PM
The parks system in older parts of Red Deer are accessible, functional, and beautiful. My only complaints about these parks are restricted trails that do not allow bicycles, and homeless people using drugs and defecating in the parks. The bigger problems come with the new parks throughout the city that consist of small green spaces added as afterthoughts that are inaccessible, poorly maintained, and extremely limited in their use (i.e.- the "Parkway" along 22st. under the power lines- between the high voltage lines, uncut grass, speeding traffic, and discarded drug paraphernalia, would you let your child play there?) Rather than wasting money on yet more traffic lights and clearing the residential streets in the winter, create larger, cleaner, parks and bicycle routes that are maintained and policed year-round.
Comment 4 8 Jun 2010, 11:40 PM
We have lived in Red Deer since 1990 - and made use of the trails and parks for 20 years... when our family was young - and now as empty nesters - we ride the trails - and have the occasional picnic
I would have to say that the City of Red Deer has done a fabulous job on the parks. We have been to other cities and used their parks - and consider Red Deer to be among the best of the lot.
Thank You !!!!
Comment 5 10 Jun 2010, 3:56 PM
Responding to the general question inthe title rather than Heritage ranch in particular (it is a ranch - so, a no-brainer to have horses): All of our parks and trees are a huge asset to the city and for me, the saving grace of having to live in an urban area.
Some of our parks do seem a bit outdated, though - for example, vast grassy spaces that could be more engaging or designed to encourage use or put to good use as community gardens, sites for public art, etc. There are many "so-called" parks in newer areas of the city that are really just drainage pits with grass on them - these are not parks and it is rare to see people out enjoying the use of those "parks" as opposed to the other more engaging parks in our community.
