Parts of Echo Dale reopen Saturday

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on July 30, 2022.

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The swim lake and portions of Echo Dale Regional Park will reopen on Saturday, about 12 days after high winds knocked down 60 trees and power loss stopped filtration and water circulating systems.

Parks department officials said Friday that the western portion of the park, including the lake and concession, the Echo Dale farm and Ajax Mine, and nearby fields will reopen, but cleanup continues in other sections of the park.

“We expect the work will be ongoing for a number of weeks as crews work to remove trees and stumps before focusing on replanting and seeding,” said Scott Richter, a director with the parks department.

Crews will be on-site near the fishing and boating lake and the boat launch on the east side of the facility, and may need to access irrigation equipment throughout.

“The amount of damage the high winds caused is indescribable,” Richter said in a release. “We know that summer in the city isn’t the same without Echo Dale and the swim lake.”

Indoor pools

Crestwood Rec Centre is set to reopen on Tuesday after routine maintenance saw the pool drained ahead of tile repair. Access to the pool, fitness area and racquetball courts will also be restored.

The aquatic centre at the Big Marble Go Centre is scheduled to close for annual maintenance from Aug. 19 to Sept. 5. Passes will be honoured at the Downtown YMCA through an agreement.

Road work

The annual month-long crack sealing campaign by city road crews begins the week of Aug. 1 at various locations throughout the city.