City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan

The surface and ground work preparation work will be nearing completion by the end of this week, early next week. With that will come the removal of most of the heavy equipment from the work site.

Curb repair and patchwork is expected to start today and continue in to next week.

A reminder that the sidewalk on the west side of the Columbus Park remains closed. Signage is posted and pedestrian traffic is being accommodated.

Deliveries of material will be ongoing and mostly take place on the west side of the site. A reminder that the angle parking on the west side remains closed for this purpose. The need for this space will be re-evaluated on a monthly basis.

Updates regarding construction and related impacts will continue to be provided throughout this project.

Surface and ground preparation work continues at the Columbus Park site, including top soil removal, structural work, and preparation for upcoming electrical and concrete work. Asphalt patch work will be completed on McLeod Avenue and Main Street and over the coming weeks there is expected to be an increase in activity and equipment on the site.

Informational signage about the redevelopment project has been posted on the fencing and the clock tower has been removed and provided to the Spruce Grove and District Agricultural Society.

As a reminder, the sidewalk on the west side of Columbus Park is currently closed. Signage is posted and pedestrian traffic is being accommodated.

The angle parking on the west side of Columbus Park is also closed, as it is needed by the contractor as a storage/laydown area for materials and equipment. The need for this space will be re-evaluated on a monthly basis.

Updates regarding construction and related impacts will be provided throughout the project.

It has stood at the corner of Main Street and McLeod Avenue for years, and now the clock tower at Columbus Park has been taken down and provided to the Spruce Grove and District Agricultural Society for future display.

The clock tower was removed from Columbus Park on July 25 as part of the extensive redevelopment work at the park that started earlier this summer. Once complete, new features and amenities at the park will include a permanent stage and storage room, shelter structure and flat green space, tables and raised planters with seating, a water bottle fill station, enhanced lighting and power outlets, and underground services installation to potentially accommodate a washroom facility in the future.

*Photos courtesy of Victor Moroz

Demolition work at Columbus Park is largely complete. The existing clock tower is expected to be removed sometime during the week of July 26 and provided to the Spruce Grove and District Agricultural Society for future display.

The next phase of the redevelopment will include surface and ground preparation, followed by underground utility work. This will result in an increase in activity and machinery at the site. As well, additional traffic and pedestrian control signage, and some informational signage about the redevelopment project, will be going up at the site.

Anticipated road closure – July 26-29

Main Street, between First Avenue and McLeod Avenue, is expected to be closed to traffic from July 26 to July 29. Traffic control and detour signage will be in place. Local traffic will still have access (ex: for deliveries).

Upcoming sidewalk closure – starting July 26

The sidewalk on the west side of Columbus Park will be closed starting July 26 and is expected to remain closed for the duration of the project. Pedestrian traffic will be accommodated and signage will be posted.

Upcoming parking closure – starting July 26

It has been determined that the angle parking on the west side of Columbus Park will be needed by the contractor as a storage/laydown area for materials and equipment so it will be closed starting July 26. The need for this space will be re-evaluated on a monthly basis.

Updates regarding construction and related impacts will be provided throughout the project.

A design concept featuring a median with trees has been approved for the revitalization of McLeod Avenue and Main Street as part of the City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan.

The concept was approved by City Council during a June 28 meeting. Work will now begin on finalizing the design with construction work scheduled to start in the spring of 2022.

The concept was developed in consultation with the City Centre Business Association, Spruce Grove Fire Services, and other stakeholders.

The overall redevelopment plan for the City Centre is focused on revitalizing the area to create a vibrant, welcoming space and improved experience for those who walk, bike, drive or use transit to access the area.

As part of the plan, work is already underway on the redevelopment of Columbus Park.

Updates regarding construction and related impacts will be provided once the McLeod Avenue and Main Street revitalization project begins next year.

*Please note images are renderings and subject to change

Demolition work will begin at Columbus Park on Thursday, July 8, and is expected to take between 7-10 days to complete.

Following demolition, the next phase of the redevelopment will include surface/ground preparation, including surveying, pilings, and irrigation lines. Underground utility work will follow.

This work is part of the City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan, which will see the park transform into a venue for gathering and public events in all seasons. New features will include a permanent stage and storage room, shelter structure and flat green space, tables and raised planters with seating, a water bottle fill station, and enhanced lighting and power outlets.

Fencing has also gone up around the perimeter of Columbus Park and the contractor’s site trailer is on location.

The sidewalk on the west side of Columbus Park will be closed in the coming days for the duration of the project. Pedestrian traffic will be accommodated and signage will be posted. The contractor no longer anticipates requiring the angle parking on the west side of Columbus Park as a storage/laydown area for materials and equipment, so at this time, the parking will remain open to the public.

The existing dedication bricks at the park have been removed and will be stored until they are re-used in the redevelopment process. The existing clock tower will be removed and provided to the Spruce Grove and District Agricultural Society for future display.

Updates regarding construction and related impacts will be provided throughout the project.

Construction on the redevelopment of Columbus Park is scheduled to begin on Monday, July 5, and a fence may go up around the site prior to that date.

This work, which is part of the City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan, will see the park transform into a venue for gathering and public events in all seasons.

To accommodate the redevelopment of Columbus Park, the site will be closed during construction. Additionally, the sidewalk on the east side of Main Street between McLeod Avenue and First Avenue, will be closed for the duration of the project (pedestrian traffic will be accommodated).

Angle parking on the east side of Main Street from McLeod Avenue to First Avenue will also be used by the contractor as a storage/laydown area for materials and equipment for the duration of the project.

The existing clock tower at Columbus Park will be carefully removed and provided to the Spruce Grove and District Agricultural Society for future display.

As well, the existing dedication bricks at the park will be salvaged and re-used in the redevelopment process.

Updates regarding construction and related impacts will be provided throughout the project.

A partnership between the City of Spruce Grove, the Spruce Grove and District Agricultural Heritage Society, and Kiwi Nurseries has resulted in five long-standing trees in Columbus Park finding a new home on the Ag Society’s grounds.

“We are thrilled to be working with both the Ag Society and Kiwi Nurseries to relocate these trees,” said City Manager Dean Screpnek. “They have been part of Columbus Park for many years, and we are fortunate to have the opportunity to keep them within our community in a location where they can continue to be enjoyed.”

Three Linden trees, one Bur Oak and one Ohio Buckeye tree were relocated over the May long weekend. Linden trees grow almost like a holiday tree, as they boast a wide brim while tapering at the treetop, while Bur Oak trees more look like a Halloween tree as their trunks are dark, twisting with corky bark and spooky looking at night. Ohio Buckeye trees can grow up to 50 feet high and display beautiful, yellowish flowers in the spring and their leaves turn to a pumpkin-orange in the fall.

“To us, it’s about helping to preserve some of the history of Spruce Grove,” said Ashleigh Munro, Ag Society board member and part-owner of Kiwi Nurseries. “These trees have been part of our city through many of the changes that have occurred within Spruce Grove, and that gives them significance. They are really some of the city’s ‘longest’ residents!”

The redevelopment work at Columbus Park is expected to occur throughout the summer months and into the fall. New features and amenities at the park will include a permanent stage and storage room, a shelter structure, flat green space, a water bottle fill station, tables, power outlets, and raised planters with seating. Underground services will also be installed to potentially accommodate a washroom facility in the future.

This work is part of a larger redevelopment plan for the City Centre that is focused on revitalizing the area to create a vibrant, welcoming space and improved experience for those who walk, bike, drive or use transit to access the area. Updating Columbus Park will help to make the space a venue for gathering and public events in all seasons.

Once events are able to resume at the Ag Society grounds, visitors will be educated about the trees’ historical significance.

Kiwi Nurseries was glad to provide the equipment and expertise to move the trees.

“We really saw this as a way to help enhance and give back to our community,” said Munro. “Trees, and nature in general, are such a valuable part of our city and this is a way we can help to educate residents about their importance.”

*Photos courtesy of Kiwi Nurseries

Columbus Park will go through a significant transformation this year as part of the City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan.

Located at the corner of Main Street and McLeod Avenue, the park is being redeveloped to include a permanent stage and storage room, a shelter structure, and tables.

The redevelopment design and construction project was approved by City Council during a March 22 meeting.

“This is very exciting news for our City Centre,” said Mayor Stuart Houston. “The redevelopment of Columbus Park will play a key role in re-invigorating this part of Spruce Grove by providing a space that can be used in multiple ways and, once permitted, be a true gathering space for our community.”

Other features of the park will include flat green space, a water bottle fill station, power outlets, and raised planters with seating. Underground services will also be installed to potentially accommodate a washroom facility in the future.

The overall redevelopment plan for the City Centre is focused on revitalizing the area to create a vibrant, welcoming space and improved experience for those who walk, bike, drive or use transit to access the area. Updating Columbus Park will help to make the space a venue for gathering and public events in all seasons (taking into consideration any current public health measures).

“We’ve worked collaboratively with the City Centre Business Association through this process and would like to thank them for their input and support,” said Mayor Houston. “Once complete, the updated Columbus Park will further support their efforts, events, and activities to bring people to the City Centre.”

To accommodate the redevelopment of Columbus Park, the site will be closed during construction, which is anticipated to start as early as mid-June 2021.

During this time, some disruption in the City Centre area is expected and there will be times when sidewalk access on both McLeod Avenue and Main Street, adjacent to the park, will be closed due to construction (pedestrian traffic will be accommodated).

Every effort will be made to minimize impacts, and local businesses and residents are thanked in advance for their understanding and cooperation.

Depending on weather and taking into consideration other factors, the park may be ready for use through the upcoming winter season. Additional redevelopment work in other parts of the City Centre area will continue in 2022.

The approved cost for the redevelopment of Columbus Park is $1.76 million.

Updates regarding construction and related impacts will be provided throughout the project.

*Please note image is a rendering and subject to change

Spruce Grove City Council was provided with an update on the City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan during a Committee of the Whole meeting on Feb. 16, 2021.

As work progresses, updates will be shared on this project site.