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By Kelly Cryderman Ottawa CitizenSaturday, February 16, 2008CALGARY - Small boats glide across the water in the summer and, over the winter months, people lace up their skates to take to the narrow frozen canal.
Does it sound like a description of canal cities such as Ottawa? San Antonio?
Try Red Deer, Alta., in about 10 years.
The Red Deer Chamber of Commerce is pushing an ambitious plan to build "a vibrant and thriving cultural district" around a downtown canal they hope will draw visitors from around the province and the world.
Red Deer is a city of about 85,000 people, located halfway between Calgary and Edmonton.
"It`s an easy town to drive through on your way to Edmonton or Calgary, and there`s not many things that bring people in here," said Ken Mandrusiak, a hotelier who chairs the chamber`s tourism subcommittee.
"We felt we should try to create something that has a real `wow` factor."
The project, called the Red Deer Riverwalk, would use old light industrial and municipal yards located on prime land just west of downtown and right beside the Red Deer River.
The preliminary plan calls for water to be lifted or pumped from the river and moved through a canal before being returned to the river near a main city bridge. The canal system would also be connected to Waskasoo Creek.
The canal cities of San Antonio - which already has a River Walk - and Ottawa are being used as models.
It`s hoped the canals will create a neighbourhood where bars would feature live jazz and artists would enjoy cheap-rent studios - without a big-box store in sight. Roads would be hidden behind businesses and the pathways along the canal would be reserved for people.
At its narrowest, the canal would be about three metres wide.
Mr. Mandrusiak said the chamber has "no clue" how much the project will cost, but will be looking for money from three levels of government along with infusions from the private sector. Eventually the canal`s maintenance could be paid for with tourist dollars.
Brent Ritchie, a professor of tourism management at the Haskayne School of Business in Calgary, said the Red Deer scheme will face a number of challenges, including environmental and costly engineering issues.
"It has potential, but it could be a joke unless it`s done well," Mr. Ritchie said.
"It`s a matter of how imaginative you can be," he said. "Have they spoken to Venice?"
The city hopes to have a detailed plan for the Riverwalk system by the end of this year.
The Calgary Herald
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/s...d3f3&k=6160
Does it sound like a description of canal cities such as Ottawa? San Antonio?
Try Red Deer, Alta., in about 10 years.
The Red Deer Chamber of Commerce is pushing an ambitious plan to build "a vibrant and thriving cultural district" around a downtown canal they hope will draw visitors from around the province and the world.
Red Deer is a city of about 85,000 people, located halfway between Calgary and Edmonton.
"It`s an easy town to drive through on your way to Edmonton or Calgary, and there`s not many things that bring people in here," said Ken Mandrusiak, a hotelier who chairs the chamber`s tourism subcommittee.
"We felt we should try to create something that has a real `wow` factor."
The project, called the Red Deer Riverwalk, would use old light industrial and municipal yards located on prime land just west of downtown and right beside the Red Deer River.
The preliminary plan calls for water to be lifted or pumped from the river and moved through a canal before being returned to the river near a main city bridge. The canal system would also be connected to Waskasoo Creek.
The canal cities of San Antonio - which already has a River Walk - and Ottawa are being used as models.
It`s hoped the canals will create a neighbourhood where bars would feature live jazz and artists would enjoy cheap-rent studios - without a big-box store in sight. Roads would be hidden behind businesses and the pathways along the canal would be reserved for people.
At its narrowest, the canal would be about three metres wide.
Mr. Mandrusiak said the chamber has "no clue" how much the project will cost, but will be looking for money from three levels of government along with infusions from the private sector. Eventually the canal`s maintenance could be paid for with tourist dollars.
Brent Ritchie, a professor of tourism management at the Haskayne School of Business in Calgary, said the Red Deer scheme will face a number of challenges, including environmental and costly engineering issues.
"It has potential, but it could be a joke unless it`s done well," Mr. Ritchie said.
"It`s a matter of how imaginative you can be," he said. "Have they spoken to Venice?"
The city hopes to have a detailed plan for the Riverwalk system by the end of this year.
The Calgary Herald
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/s...d3f3&k=6160