East Central Alberta Heritage Society

The East Central Alberta Heritage Society has created a new brochure dealing with the Natural Linear Park concept. This idea of a long narrow park is not totally new, but as far as we can tell has never been used to protect and preserve natural habitat on abandoned railway rights of way.

One of the conditions that the society has set for the park development is that adjacent landowners be assured that there will be no negative impact. A series of landowner meetings, organized by the Adjacent Landowners Association, headed by Larry Steeves of Meeting Creek, are being held to address concerns and provide information. It is hoped that the new brochure will assist with explaining the concept.

Currently unused rights of way owned by ECAHS are closed to the public but subject to trespass and intrusion from adjacent lands. The plan is to open sections of the rights of way to the public but to physically restrict the free flow vehicular traffic. Managed park land complete with entrance gates, signage, safety fencing, and renewed or replaced fences on both sides of the rights of way will protect and enhance environmentally sensitive areas, provide educational opportunities to understand their values, balanced against restricted public access.

The renewal and/or replacement of parallel fencing on both sides of parks are intended to stop visitors from accidentally or intentionally wandering out of the parks on to someone else’s land. Planned signage and user literature will make the boundaries of parks abundantly clear and that entry onto adjacent lands constitutes trespass. The development of Natural Linear Parks will reduce, not increase, instances of trespass. The parks will be developed in a manner that will not damage or impact the environment. The railway bed was constructed many years ago well above any wetlands. Culverts and bridges already exist so the least amount of disturbance will occur. It is anticipated that access will be limited to walking, biking, jogging, horseback riding, snow-shoeing, and cross-country skiing. Activities might include picnicking and bird watching.

Public washrooms will be provided in designated day use picnic areas. These facilities will be self contained with running water provided from holding tanks and approved septic pump-out tanks.

The proposed parks are located in the County of Stettler, Camrose County and Starland County. They govern the land uses and municipal approval will be obtained before development begins.

The ECAHS Natural Linear Park concept is funded by a $732,000 grant from the Government of Canada’s Community Adjustment Fund support-ed by Canadian Badlands Ltd. The society must raise not less than $60,000 in matching dollars or gifts in kind.

A federally mandated and funded environmental assessment of the parks and rail relay projects is now wrapped up and awaiting a final report. Indication are that there are no major concerns and the only restrictions maybe the timing of construction and development. Wildlife habitat and, where possible, natural vegetation will need to be protected.

Linear Park Information Brochure (draft)(pdf)