December 22, 2010
River Valley Alliance Announcement
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The capital region river valley park moves one step closer to reality
Edmonton AB – Today the River Valley Alliance Board Members welcomed the Government of Canada’s partnership in developing the Capital Region River Valley Park. By earmarking up to $30 million, the Government of Canada, will allow for the Alliance to work with communities and develop a network that would link trails, systems and modes of movement along the river valley. The end result will be an 88-kilometre, 18,000-acre single regional metropolitan park, allowing people to bike, walk, canoe, run or cross-country ski from Devon to Fort Saskatchewan.
To make the announcement, the Chair of the River Valley Alliance Board, Sol Rolingher, was joined by Edmonton-area Members of Parliament including the MP for Edmonton Spruce-Grove, the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister Responsible for Northern Alberta.
“This is a great day for the River Valley Alliance and for the more than one million Albertans in the Capital Region who will benefit from recreational, cultural and historic development of the River Valley Park,” said Mr. Rolingher. “With the support of the federal government, we are one step closer to connecting our river valley through the development of this expansive trail system needed to connect the river valley from one end to the other.”
Expansion of the trail system is the first of three components of the Capital Region River Valley Park plan and is estimated to cost $89 million. Once municipal funding for the projects has been confirmed the federal government will complete its formal review of the project. The province has already confirmed its funding.
“The River Valley Alliance’s plan for the North Saskatchewan River Valley could result in our region having the biggest and best urban park in North America, and the Government of Canada will be proud to step up and be a partner in making this project happen,” said Minister Ambrose. “With the support of all the partners involved, this project can be the kind of lasting infrastructure that will benefit our region’s residents and families for years to come.”
The River Valley Alliance (RVA) is a registered not-for-profit corporation formally incorporated in 2003. It is comprised of seven municipalities within the Capital Region North Saskatchewan River Valley: the Town of Devon, Parkland County, Leduc County, City of Edmonton, Strathcona County, City of Fort Saskatchewan and Sturgeon County.
