Cold Lake to recognize the history of Grand Centre

A concept drawing for the Grand Centre Gateway project on 50th Ave in Cold Lake.

The town of Grand Centre might soon be prominently featured in downtown Cold Lake.

The city has been hashing out ideas to recognize the town that formed with northern neighbours in Cold Lake and Medley in 1996 to create the City of Cold Lake.

At the council priorities meeting in February, the designs for a downtown Grand Centre Gateway on 50th Avenue were presented to council.

“There were people in the old Grand Centre who wanted Grand Centre recognized and it was a council initiative for many years to find a way of putting some history and recognizing Grand Centre. I think this will be a nice way of doing it,” said Mayor Craig Copeland.

The design includes stonework, a trellis, and benches on the south side, where a plaque will recognize Grand Centre. On the opposite side, there will be more lighting and stonework.

Council set aside $250,000 in their 2019 budget for the project.

It will also replace the current downtown entryway, said Copeland.

“I think it will be a nice feature and then future councils can build off of that. Someday, downtown south will get a makeover that council will put money into the whole look. This can be a spark that will set the theme for another look for main street,” he said.

Concepts drawings began in September.