Upgrades to Fort Edmonton Park may see the facility close for up to two years.
A spokesperson with the Fort Edmonton Management Company said it was not clear whether the Park’s attractions would be fully or just partially closed.
However Sandra Green said it was “highly likely” there would be closures.
In 2010 Management of the Park released a revitalization plan, which was approved by Edmonton City Council.
Some of the work they have outlined is a hotel extension, addition of an Aboriginal Village, midway rides, corn maze, balloon ride, rustic cabins, additional retail and food outlets, outdoor ice skating, aviation garden as well as a warehouse.
Green said they didn’t expect the work to begin until 2018.
“We don’t have any real information on how much time it would take, if it would be done in stages, if it would be done all at once. Until we have a contractor involved I think it is just pure speculation.”
Before any of the additions can be done to the Park, crews will need to upgrade the utility infrastructure, she said.
“It is the original infrastructure that was put into place when the Park was open.
“So it is probably under a little more pressure than it was necessarily designed for.”
Although some conceded that the work needed to get done Suzanne Robb said she worried visitors would forget about the Park if it closed for any length of time.
“At least if it is still, in part, open you still have a draw for the people here.”
Green said that those involved in the project will work to minimize the impact for the public.
“If and when there are closures, partial or otherwise, we will have a strategy in place to do whatever we can to make that programing still available.”
With files from Nicole Weisberg
