Thank you to those who participated in this engagement. You can learn more about this project below, or subscribe to Participate Wood Buffalo to stay connected (or get involved) with future engagement projects impacting our region.

Update: October 6, 2023: Crews are at work restoring the former laydown yard on Beacon Hill Drive to greenspace. This will include removing gravel and restoring the site with topsoil and turf so it can be a natural space for the community to enjoy. To learn more visit rmwb.ca/construction.

Update: December 5, 2022: The Beacon Hill Greenspace Restoration was approved as part of the 2023 Capital Budget. To review the presentation visit rmwb.ca/council. Updates regarding construction will be provided when available.

Update: November 16, 2022: The request for the Beacon Hill Greenspace Restoration will be presented as part the proposed 2023 Capital Budget. The proposed project includes gravel removal and turf greening of the casual park area used by residents for various recreational needs. The status of this project will be updated after the budget meetings set for November 29 to December 2, 2022.

To review the agenda package or to register as a delegate visit rmwb.ca/council.

Update, September 14, 2022: The motion requesting decrease in funding of capital budget was approved by Council on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 for the cancellation of the tennis court replacement project. As per the Council report, a greenspace project for Beacon Hill is expected to be included in the proposed 2023 capital budget, which will be discussed as part of Budget Workshops the week of November 28, 2022.

Feedback received as a result of public engagement, determined that the community was not in favor of replacing the tennis courts in Beacon Hill.

Update, September 13, 2022: The Beacon Hill Greenspace Restoration is on the Council meeting agenda for Tuesday, September 13, 2022. The recommended motion states,

THAT the 2022 Capital Budget Amendment as summarized on Attachment 1 (2022 Capital Budget Amendment – Project Cancellation, dated September 13, 2022) be approved; and THAT the revised Cash Flow of Capital Projects as summarized on Attachment 2 (2022 Capital Budget Amendment – Project Cancellation – Project Cash Flow Summary, dated September 13, 2022) be approved.

The Capital Budget amendment will result in a net decrease of $500,000 to the 2022 & thereafter Capital Budget, as outlined in the Budget Net Change Summary.

To review the Council Agenda Package click here.

Update: Feedback collected during engagement is now under review to determine the best course of action for residents and the community. We thank you for your input and ideas throughout the engagement process and look forward to further discussion once next steps have been identified.

In the meantime, please contact PULSE for any additional questions.

When the Beacon Hill tennis courts were decommissioned in the spring of 2020, the Parks department went to work finding the best possible place to replace the tennis courts. Using the Parks Master Plan as a guiding document, park amenities and services should, at minimum, be maintained at the same level. Furthermore, the Master Plan indicates that there is a below-average number of tennis courts in the region and recommends further expansion of parkland in Beacon Hill.

To ensure park services levels were maintained in Beacon Hill, it was determined the tennis courts would be replaced at the old laydown yard on Beacon Hill Drive by Beale Crescent. This location was chosen as it presented a unique opportunity to restore the area and create additional recreation opportunities, while using existing material on-site, helping save costs. This area was heavily used for construction activities during the wildfire recovery process and was always intended to be restored.

When construction was announced to begin in the summer, we became aware of concerns from some residents of Beacon Hill about the intended scope of work. In response, a public information session was held on August 25, 2021 to share detailed information about the intended work and listen to concerns.

The purpose of this survey is to provide all residents of the Beacon Hill neighbourhood, as well as users and potential users of park amenities in Beacon Hill, and the public in general an opportunity to provide feedback on the intended greenspace restoration. The location already has features including a gazebo, benches, horticultural displays, and connectivity to existing trails. New features will include landscaped and maintained green spaces, two tennis courts including pickle ball courts, and a small parking lot. This will increase recreational opportunities in the neighbourhood and help beautify the community.

The Public Works department is committed to providing outdoor recreation opportunities for residents in Wood Buffalo and wants to ensure new projects are supported by the community. Please complete the survey to provide you input, or get in touch with us to discuss the project in more detail. Your feedback, and feedback gathered at the Information Session in August, will help decide next steps for the Beacon Hill Greenspace Restoration project.

Please note that the Municipality removed some information from the Survey Report to comply with Alberta’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act. Section 17(1) of the Act states that the Municipality must not disclose personal information if it is an unreasonable invasion of an individual’s privacy. We have annotated FOIP Act “s.17(1)” on the report where we severed this personal information. If you have questions or concerns about the removal of information you may contact Joseph Adeleke, FOIP Officer at 780-788-4347 or email FOIP@rmwb.ca