Achi news desk-
Lorraine Koop’s backyard – and what lies beyond – has undergone dramatic changes since her family moved to their Abbeydale home 33 years ago.
“Stoney Trail’s noise level has really affected our quality of life,” Koop said. “There used to be cows and coyotes back there.”
And although she recognizes that cities are not static places, she and many of her neighbors are completely opposed to the construction of an extended Memorial Walk.
“If Memorial Drive gets pumped through, I’ll have four more lanes behind my property.”
For now, the concrete ends abruptly just east of 68th Street. But the city’s plan has long been to extend Memorial Drive, providing access to the growing suburb of Belvedere on the east side of Stoney Trail.
“We expect about 60,000 people to eventually live in the Belvedere area structural plan and 10,000 to 15,000 jobs to be happening there,” said Zoran Carkic, senior transportation engineer with the City of Calgary.
The project did not receive construction funds in the city’s current budget, but the district councilor suggests the timetable could be hit.
The email you need for the day’s top news stories from Canada and around the world.
“We visualized (this) initially that it was not within our five-year capital program,” said Ward 10 Councilor Andre Chabot. “Based on the rapid growth on the east side of the city, I expect it will start to come within that five-year timeline.”
Many in the community have raised concerns about the loss of the existing green space as part of the project. But some welcome the change.
“I have a puppy that I take there every day,” said Abbeydale resident Kevin Warner. “But the park isn’t really looked after by anyone anyway.”
“I feel like the green space that’s there, nobody really uses it. Or nobody uses it to cross from Applewood to Abbeydale. It’s just kind of an open space… There’s nothing really going on,” added Applewood Park resident Daniel Rojas.
Chabot points to better access to existing parks, with plans to expand them and line the avenue with trees.
The city says it will use feedback from Wednesday’s open house and online engagement to refine the recommended plan, which will be completed this summer.
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
