Tag: MacDonald Island Park

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Economic Entertainment Ft Mac

Fort McMurray Residents Eligible for Free Two Week Membership to Miskanaw Golf Course and MacDonald Island Park

All Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo residents are eligible to receive a free two week membership to Miskanaw Golf Course and MacDonald Island Park, but this offer only lasts until July 21 for the golf course and June 16 for the park. After this date residents can no longer access the course or the park facilities at no charge. Regional Recreation Corporation CEO Annette Antoniak discussed the free access, saying “It was so great to see people coming and so excited about golfing. Everyone is dealing with such stress, and for everyone being able to come down to work out, golf, or have a nice swim, I think it’s great to be able to offer that for our residents. It’s the least that can be done to say welcome back.”

Many residents who returned to Fort McMurray were thrilled to access Miskanaw Golf Course and MacDonald Island Park for free. Resident Bryan Seredynski played 18 holes and was enthusiastic about the free passes, saying “It’s pretty fantastic, it’s just what the community needs. It’s the perfect distraction. The course is in pretty good shape.” Matt Huges also had positive thoughts on the free access. “We’re hoping the rain holds off, but it’s not looking good. It’s pretty good of them. It really shows they care about the community.” Any resident who already has a membership will receive a two week extension. The free passes can be acquired at the golf course or the Suncor Commuity Leisure Centre, and residents must present a valid government issued ID that shows a Wood Buffalo address. For children a current Alberta health card is all that is necessary.

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Entertainment Ft Mac

MacDonald Island Park Will Reopen to the Public in Mid June

The wildfire in Fort McMurray and the Wood Buffalo area has had an enormous impact on the region but there is some good news for those who return to the community in order to clean up and rebuild. MacDonald Island Park will be reopen to the public and fully operational by June 13. Regional Recreation Corporation of Wood Buffalo CEO Annette Antoniak explained that Miskanaw Golf Club can be accessed by June 8 of this year, and the rest of the attractions offered at the park will be open and accessible by June 13. For the initial two weeks after the park reopens all of the amenities will be provided to Fort McMurray residents at no charge, including the Total Fitness Centre and the Syncrude Aquatic Centre.

Once MacDonald Island Park is reopen to the public there are still some limitations in place. Building contractors are still being housed in the field houses and the curling rink areas at the Leisure Centre and this will still be off limits as a result. According to Antoniak “Shell Place is in fantastic shape, as are the football fields and baseball fields. The Monarchs will be coming back for their first game in mid-June, and the Giants will be coming back in July. There was a full camp set up here. We were accommodating people in our field houses, in the curling rink… well throughout the whole facility actually. Then we actually have some camps set up in the parking with two full kitchens. What we’re trying to do right now is make sure that we’re ready for full operations. Like everyone re-entering their homes, we’re making sure that all our air ducts are cleaned, our filters are cleaned, and making sure that it is a great environment for people to come back to.”

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Entertainment Ft Mac

Easter Brunch at MacDonald Island Park

MacDonald Island Park, Easter Brunch

Wood Buffalo residents may want to mark the Easter Brunch at MacDonald Island Park on Sunday, April 8 on their calendars. This annual event brings families and individuals from all around Wood Buffalo, and it is a memorable event that offers fun, food, and laughter for the Easter holiday. The brunch will be held at the Suncor Community Leisure Centre, and the menu and event schedule has been published online. Executive Chef Jaimeet Kathuria will be responsible for preparing the deluxe Easter Brunch buffet, and the menu options will be very diverse and incredibly delicious. There will be traditional breakfast dishes like scrambled eggs with aged cheddar and spring onions and Belgian waffles and pancakes with triple berry compote and whipped cream. Upscale salads, an omelet station, 7 different gourmet entrees, an artisan and breakfast bread display, a carving station, a dessert section, and even a kid’s buffet ensures that there is something for everyone.

The MacDonald Island Easter Brunch event is not just about the food though, there are a variety of events scheduled for all ages as well. An Easter egg hunt, a bunny hop, and even arts and crafts will be available as well as sports and physical fitness activities. Free skate periods and a family crafting project are also being offered. The cost for the brunch is $35 per adult, $28 per senior, $12 for kids between 6 and 12 years old, and free for kids 5 and under. Easter Brunch will be held from 10:30 am and 3:00 pm. Reservations can be made by calling 780-791-0070.

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MacDonald Island Park Reopens the Indoor Playground

MacDonald Island Park, indoor playground
MacDonald Island Park, indoor playground

The indoor playground at MacDonald Island Park has reopened, and the first few days kids of all ages packed the playground and had a blast. The closure of the indoor playground coincided with the summer months which are not as busy, and the newer version provides a mural that covers the entire length of the room as well as new features and play structures. Regional Recreation Corporation Communications and Advancement manager Adam Hardiman stated “It was renovated and refreshed this summer during a bit of a downtime, and we’re happy that it’s back open. It’s a great step in a young, growing community, and continue to make the improvements that community members want.” The new floor is made from a rubber material that offers bounce and improved safety, and there are a variety of play structures for kids to choose from.

When Hardiman discussed the reopening of the indoor playground at MacDonald Island Park he continued by saying “Not that it wasn’t safe in the beginning, but we’ve actually improved the safety well beyond the standard that’s appropriate,. If there is a slip, trip and a fall — we never want that, but if it does happen — it’s definitely a better environment for it to happen.” Hardiman also told journalists “Let’s face it, we’re a northern city, and that’s why this facility is so important. We’ve got close to 150 births every month, and anyone that’s walked the halls of the Suncor Community Leisure Centre knows it’s a place where you see families. Sometimes we get to talk about the big and shiny things and new announcements … but on a day to day basis, if you’re four, five or six years old, this matters to you and it should matter to your mum and dad.”

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Parking Study on MacDonald Island Park Under Consideration

MacDonald Island Park, parking study
MacDonald Island Park, parking study

 

A parking study for MacDonald Island Park is being considered by the local council in order to develop a traffic strategy. Since MacDonald Island Park is the focus of expansion efforts a parking study is needed to ensure that there is adequate parking for residents and visitors both. According to Councillor Tyran Ault “We’ve seen time and time again the need for additional parking on MacDonald Island. When we were starting the construction for the softball diamonds at MacDonald Island Park, people were coming up and saying, ‘Hey, great job for adding more parking.’ We actually had to back up and say, ‘No, we’re adding more stuff to the island.’” The council member went on to say “The options are unlimited. Traffic at the island is a continuing issue and I think it’s only going to get worse as we build and expand out.”

Some of the MacDonald Island Park options that are being considered as part of the parking study include improvements to existing transit services and the possibility of parkades. The proposal that was put forward will be voted on at the next council meeting. With the official opening of the new Shell Place on MacDonald Island Park the capacity for 15,000 seats means that additional parking will be needed. Right now the park only has space for 1,300 parking spots, far less than what will be needed when Shell Place begins operations. The parking study will address this shortage and take steps to ensure that there is sufficient parking on MacDonald Island for everyone who wants to visit.

 

 

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Shell Place Stadium Construction on MacDonald Island Park is Almost Finished

MacDonald Island Park, Fort MacMurray
MacDonald Island Park, Fort MacMurray

Shell Place Stadium, the newest stadium in the Fort MacMurray area which is under construction on MacDonald Island Park, will be ready soon and is expected to be ready for the turf to be rolled out by the end of Summer if everything goes as planned. The expansion project on MacDonald Island Park will cost around $127 million by the time it is finished, and the Fort MacMurray area residents will have a stadium that they can be proud of. According to Tim Reid, who is the CEO of Regional Recreation Corporation “Any time that you work on capital projects in Wood Buffalo, you have to keep an eye on weather. Unfortunately it’s that one thing you can’t control, (but) we feel very confident that SMS Stadium will be completed, which is our biggest risk initiative outdoors. We also feel very confident that the work indoors will be completed and delivered on time.”

Reid continued about the expansion and construction on MacDonald Island Park by stating “This is a place where people go anyways. It’s a destination location within the community, and if we can have public transit that’s easier to access, that solves some of our parking challenges (and) it solves some of our accessibility issues. It’s just not feasible to put 20,000 parking stalls and use up the entire island, nor would it be responsible.” Reid also talked about finances. “This year-to-date, we’re off by about $1.6 million. So it’s not trending to where we thought it was going to be, but some of that is actually how we account for expenses, in terms of what equipment is on-site (and) what the architects have approved to be built by the contractor. So yes, there’s a gap between where we thought we were going to be, but when you’re spending $7 to 9 million a month, we’re not really concerned that we won’t make that up.”