City removing river valley structures

By Lethbridge Herald on September 19, 2024.

Two unauthorized man-created structures in the river valley are being removed by the City of Lethbridge.
One is called the ‘World Peace Earth Shrine’ and is located in Botterill Bottom Park. The other is known as ‘World Peace Sky Shrine’ and is situated in the Lethbridge Nature Reserve.
The City says The removals come after environmental experts determined the structures are harming the environment.
The City says “construction, maintenance and ongoing visitation to the sites are having adverse ecological impacts.” Sensitive plant species are being harmed, says the City.
They include:
* Circinaria hispida (Desert Vagabond Lichen)
* Astragalus gilviflorus (Three leaf Milkvetch)
* Astragalus missouriensis (Missouri Milkvetch)
* Astragalus spatulatus (Tufted Milkvetch)
* Tetraneuris acaulis (Stemless Four-nerved Daisy)
* Aristida purpurea (Purple Three awn)
The City says disturbance of vegetation and moving of river rocks is also harmful.
“A wildlife biologist noted concerns about the increase of bare ground,” says GM of Parks, Blair Richter in a media statement on the City’s website. “This makes it more likely that invasive plants, like leafy spurge and knapweed, will take hold in the area.”
The City says visitors to the Botterill Bottom Structure are leaving harmful items, such as plastics and metals and when the Oldman River rises, the objects will enter the waterway. The also pose a risk to the wildlife who call this area home.
The structures also violate multiple portions of the City’s Parks Bylaw. Building is not allowed in the parkland which the City says was discussed with the creator on multiple occasions, but the sites continued to expand and host in-person gatherings.
Land reclamation will follow, says the City.
The Botterill Bottom Park structure was created by Michael Petrakis, who is originally from Greece. He told The Herald in an interview in September of last year that his offering of peace is for all members of the community.
“This is a gift and a peace offering to the peoples of Lethbridge, the Blackfoot Confederacy, and all the peoples of the world,” said Petrakis at the time.

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