The Vision For The Future Fort Macleod

Highway Approach Signage

The vision for the town starts at the approach on the highways, with distinctive signage of a historic theme indicating the unique significance of the town as the site of the peace that was established between the Crowfoot Nation and Canada by the NW Mounted Police and the site of the first NWMP Barracks. The highway, before entering the town, offers 2 routes; a freight route bypass to the south and a town entry that leads to the restored Barracks and the town centre.

Entry To The Historic Area

The town approach from the west passes the restored Barracks and continues on to an archway entry at 23rd Street and Second Avenue that leads into the historic Main Street area. The approach to the town from the east focuses on the historic area at the Fort, and the vision shows a pedestrian crossing at 25th and the Devonian Walkway, brick paved with widened sidewalks and a median strip with bollards, tree shaded and marked by banners.

Devonian Walkway

This pedestrian crossing leads to an arched entry to the Devonian Walkway. This walkway is shown as widened and paved on its northern half with an avenue of trees, pedestrian scale lamps and banners, and historic interpretive plaques. The southern half of the walkway is shown as a place to get information from a kiosk, buy a snack from vending carts and sit out of the wind on benches with dividing arms and listen to buskers playing music. Walls are shown as having murals, trees have festive lighting. There are added planters and secure bike racks.

Main Street

In addition to the east and west street entry to 24th Main Street and the pedestrian entry at the Devonian Walkway, a pedestrian entry is suggested from the south at mid block through a new mall at the site of the empty Reaches store. Main Street is shown as a lively street with wide sidewalks, avenues of trees on both sides, planters and overhead banners and overhanging signs. People are shown as sitting at a cafe table outside a bakers shop. Sitting areas under trees are proposed and the drawing shows a curved brick planter of indigenous plants with a bench, curved inwards and having dividing arms.

Lanes

The lane to the north of Main Street that borders on the parking is shown as having facades beautified. Trees and planting and additional lighting for security in parking areas, and improved access to rear parking from Main Street are envisioned. The lane to the south of Main Street is shown with beautified facades and with set back areas detailed as pedestrian courts, containing planters and protected from parking by bollards. A roof-garden restaurant is drawn, wind-shielded from the west, with cafe umbrellas. Garbage areas are shown as enclosed with roll- down or sliding doors to conceal the garbage bins.

Industrial Areas

Improvements to the interface between industrial and residential development included upgrading to the appearance of the industry along 11th and 12th streets and along the lane between these streets. Quality finishes to the industrial buildings and landscaped forecourts are envisioned. Streets are shown with boulevards of trees and hedges. On 15th Street hedges and/or slat fences are suggested to catch the dust from the grain silos. Lighting improvements on industrial sites, non- intrusive and directional, are recommended. Signage, well maintained and possibly of historic theme, are noted. Lane treatment shows a paved surface, and high wood fencing and buildings on the lot line to shield the industrial sites. A landscaped and treed berm is shown between the proposed dangerous goods by-pass and the country-residential sites.

Social And Cultural Activities

Two drawings, dictated by different groups, focused on cultural facilities. One was centred on a library and the other centred on a community centre. Both showed facilities for arts and crafts, drama, youth activities, study and meetings. Both showed landscaped forecourts with outdoor activities. The library forecourt, facing south onto a lane and parking, shows a scene of readings to children. The community centre forecourt facing onto a street and parking shows benches, people socializing, and a grassed, tree sheltered picnic area. Native culture was envisioned in an idea for a Sundance Centre, and in the signs welcoming visitors to Fort Macleod on the highway approaches, and in native paintings on plaques in the paving at benches on Main Street. Historic features were suggested in the signage in the industrial areas and in the improved Devonian
Walkway, in interpretive plaques in the Devonian Walkway, and in the re-enactment dramas and puppet shows in the ideas for the library.

Recreational Activities

The ideas for the community centre included a large range of recreational activities, including ice hockey and skating, swimming, gym, squash, racquetball, volley ball, dancing and exercise workouts. The students at G.R.Davis Elementary School in considering their preferred day in Fort Macleod mentioned recreation as the highest preference, 16 times, the next highest, shopping, rated only 6. Students at the F.P.Walshe High School mentioned recreation as their highest preference also, 21 times in their preferred day, the next highest being eating and drinking at 10. As has been mentioned, an idea for a skateboard park was proposed by a group of high school students.

< Previous Page