Millennium Park Issue

This is a special edition of the BLESS Newsletter to bring an immediate matter related to the City of St, Albert’s proposed Millennium Park development to your attention.

There is a petition now being circulated to request St Albert City Council to repeal the draft borrowing bylaw for $20.8 million for the development of Millennium Park. The new design for Millennium Park as currently conceived will result in the removal of 56% of the trees and most of the wetlands along the Sturgeon River between St. Albert Place and the railway bridge.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PETITION AT ST. ALBERT SAYS: STALBERTSAYS.COM

Signatories must be over the age of 18 and a resident of St. Albert. Signatures must be witnessed and locations are currently being set up. The initiative urgently needs volunteers to assist. If you can help, please contact the petition organizers at www.stalbertsays.com. 8000 signatures are required by March 29, 2024. The borrowing bylaw goes for 2nd and 3rd reading on April 2, 2024.

More information about the petition is available in this front page article of the February 15 St. Albert Gazette: St. Albert resident petitioning against $20.8 million Millennium Park borrowing bylaw - StAlbertGazette.com

BLESS strongly supports this grassroots citizen initiative.

Current proposed plans for Millennium Park are available here. City Council chose the High Development Option. See the website for legend, structures and other details.

As you can see, these development options remove a significant amount of forest and wetlands along the Sturgeon River.

Proposed Millennium Park Option

Millennium Park Areas of Impact

Sections A and B will see the greatest impact as the trees at these locations will be removed and the wetlands will be filled in. This will require the City to seek permits under the Provincial Water Act. Section C is all within the Protected Flood Fringe. This area will also see significant tree removal and infill. No provincial permits are required to remove this area from the natural ecosystem. Note that these boundaries are approximate and subject to change. These boundaries are per BLESS and not the City of St Albert.

In January 2024 the City of St. Albert introduced its Green Environmental Strategy available here.

The Strategy consists of four key objectives excerpted from the City website as follows:

BLESS believes that it is unacceptable for the City to proceed with a $20.8 million borrowing bylaw for the development of a park that violates every single one of the City’s own green objectives within days of the Green Environmental Strategy being released.

St. Albert city council approves first reading of $20.8 million Millennium Park debenture - StAlbertGazette.com

The proposed Millennium Park plans also go against the Province of Alberta Wetlands Policy available here: Alberta Wetland Policy

The proposed park with the removal of 56% of the forest and wetlands contradicts The City of St. Albert’s position as a champion of urban forest cover given it being awarded the designation as a “Tree City of the World” two years in a row, a rare and prestigious award. St. Albert declared a Tree City of the World - StAlbertGazette.com

The proposed Millennium Park plans also go against the spirit of the City’s own Municipal Development Plans that apply to Major Open Spaces 14.2 Major Open Spaces / City of St. Albert (stalbert.ca)

2018 Millennium Park Concept Plan

Photographs of areas affected

Looking southward

This is looking southward into Millennium Park. Almost all these trees in this photograph will be removed and the wetlands filled in.

Section A

This is looking into “Section A” on the previous map. This entire wetland will be filled in, the trees cut down and replaced with grass, gravel, concrete or asphalt depending on final plans.

Section B

This again is looking southerly and represents the “Section B” area on the earlier map. This area is also classed as a wetland and will see all the trees removed and the wetland filled and replaced with grass, concrete, asphalt etc.

Looking north

Looking northerly from Millennium Park towards the pedestrian bridge. All the trees and all the wetlands in this photograph will be removed. The St. Albert Seniors Centre is immediately adjacent to the left.

Deer tracks

Deer tracks adjacent to the area affected.