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Help
add a little history to
the Arches project
reprinted from Red Deer
Advocate (Paul Cowley) September 19, 2009
The Central Alberta Historical Society is looking for help on a
major downtown project to honour the city's past.
Eight arches are in place at Centennial Park Plaza and the final
phase of the roughly $240,000 project involves the placement of 27
plaques on the nine pillars supporting the arches that surround a
historic fountain.
Sheila Bannerman, president of the historical society, said
constructing the arches in the new park at 48th Street and 52nd
Avenue cost more than expected so the society is turning to the
community to sponsor the plaques on the feature meant to evoke a
railway roundhouse.
"We will be looking to sell subscriptions through the Arches Fund
that will help cover the cost of the plaques. We are working on
putting together a pamphlet that will be presenting to various
individuals and organizations to see if they would like to donate."
Each subscription will be for one plaque. And as that subscription
come in, that plaque will be done and mounted on the arches.
"We're kind of looking at it as a representative walking tour of Red
Deer history. Each plaque will represent a significant era."
A committee has been set up to work out designs and content of the
etched metal plaques and to set prices. Exactly what will go on each
panel has not been determined. They may feature historical photos or
artists' impressions of Red Deer of yesteryear, or both.
"It's pretty much in the exploratory stages for that. We're trying
to stay away from representations of individuals because it would be
basically impossible to represent all of the important individuals
in Red Deer history."
How long it takes to finish off the project will depend on the
success of the subscription drive.
"Basically, it's something that will be a good long-term project, in
terms of both history and art. We don't want to rush it. We want to
make sure, because it's going to be there for a long time, that it
will be really worth going and having a look at."
City parks superintendent Trevor Poth said tenders have just gone
out on concrete work for the site and if all goes well, landscaping
can be completed and the fountain hooked up by the end of October.
It is estimated that work will cost $75,000 to $100,000.
The Arches project has been funded through local donations,
contributions from the city and grants from the province and CP
Rail.
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