Central Park will close for most of summer for irrigation upgrades

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on May 19, 2023.

https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

Irrigation upgrades will keep Kiwanis Central Park closed for most of the summer, the city announced this week as it begins a major plan to overhaul irrigation in city parks.

Work at the park on the Southeast Hill park could last 12 weeks and will begin in the later part of May toward replacing the system in the area measuring four square city blocks.

An initial phase involves just the southern portion and could be complete in mid-July, but will require the splash park, basketball court and nature playground to be closed until then.

It is one of three major major irrigation and “alternative landscaping” projects for the parks and recreation department in 2023.

Change are also set to take place this summer at Southridge Community Park as well as along the 13th Avenue SE corridor.

The city budget outlines about $3.6 million in irrigation upgrades this year, and $3.8 million in 2024. Another $26.7 million is outlined for irrigation projects in the long-term capital plan to 2032.

Several years ago the department enacted a policy of replacing flowers, shrubs and grasses with lower maintenance, more drought resistance varieties.