There is a light at the end of the tunnel for local sports groups, which have become frustrated by growing numbers and limited spaces to play.
The town council endorsed the Horse Creek Sports Park master site plan in chambers on Monday night, a culmination of the work of the Parks and Recreation Committee, town staff, and Rocky View Schools (RVS).
The plan, which includes most of the sports groups that presented their cases to the committee several weeks ago, is for the 158-acre site north of the community of Heritage Hills and is in the final steps of the Town of Cochrane’s annexation process from Rocky View County.
The site will include a 30 acre from RVS high school site and the balance will be dedicated to sports and recreation – including 11 acres for town maintenance and transit facilities and 117 acres for future recreational uses, including a quad ball diamond, multiple soccer/rugby fields; outdoor skating rinks; playgrounds; a central clubhouse facility; bike facilities such as a pump track, skills park, and flow park; and an extensive pathway and trail network with a viewpoint.
“I think this has the potential to complete our community … it’s about all these sports groups being together, interacting with each other,” said Mayor Jeff Genung, adding that he thinks the clubhouse will be a central hub with a lot of potential.
Coun. Susan Flowers was interested in learning which sports groups did not make the cut and was satisfied to know that these groups would be accommodated through other opportunities in the future.
Pickleball and disc golf will not be included on the site, and Cochrane BMX will also not be on the site. They will remain at their existing facilities on the Ag Society grounds for the time being.
Coun. Tara McFadden, who sat on the committee, proposed that the council adopt the master plan, marveling at the sports community.
“We’re happy to see ball diamonds being added to Cochrane,” said Cory O’How, president of Cochrane Minor Ball (CMB). “We have voiced our concerns about what we need … we’re interested in learning about the plan’s details.”
“Cochrane Minor Ball has doubled over the last few years, and we haven’t added any new diamonds,” he said, adding that over 700 kids played in CMB this year, pushing the envelope with the existing facilities. Around 300 mixed slo-pitch players and around 100 men’s league players.
Also, on Monday night, the town council endorsed the Tri-Site phasing and implementation plan (see below; article on page 6). The administration was careful to stress that as far as the Fifth Ave site is concerned, the existing users (including ball diamonds) would not lose amenities without having them replaced – working in conjunction with the development of the Horse Creek Sports Park.
Bike Cochrane, one of the town’s newest societies advocating for All Aboard Two Wheels, is excited about the opportunities.
“These trails provide a local area for skill development, a local ride at lunch, and something to do while other family members are using the other parts of the facility,” said Ross Stirling, president of Bike Cochrane. “We look forward to working with the town to initiate planning and fundraising.”
RTheRVS future high school is still at least ten years out.
“RVS is in the long-term planning cycle for that area of Cochrane,” explained Associate Superintendent of Business and Operations Larry Paul. “Typically, when it comes to land purchases, the school division needs to look out for 10 to 20 years. High school construction is funded by the provincial government and the need is at least 10 years out.”
The local public school division does have a plan to accommodate growth at the existing high schools in the interim.
“Bow Valley High was designed and built with a plan for a future second-phase addition. RVS has placed the Bow Valley addition as its second priority on the capital plan request list. Also, RVS has some limited ability to add modular units to Cochrane High if and when the population warrants it.
The town will move forward with redesignation and subdivision applications throughout this year, with plans to service the site next year. After this, formal on-site development, including town maintenance and transit facilities, may commence.
The council approved the $100,000 budget earlier this year to develop the master site plan, which will be funded through the parks and open spaces reserve fund.
The funds to develop the Horse Creek Sports Park will be through grant applications and fundraising by sports groups.
