The Town of Bonnyville is moving forward with a long-term development plan for municipally owned land near the Centennial Centre, and the price tag has already been cut in half.

BONNYVILLE –During its November 10 regular meeting, Council approved submitting an application to the Northern and Regional Economic Development (NRED) Program to help fund the Uptown Area Master Plan.

Originally approved in March 2026 with a $200,000 budget, the planning project is now estimated to cost $100,000 following a request-for-pricing process.

That’s a $100,000 reduction before any potential grant funding.

If the Town’s application is successful, the NRED Program could cover 50 percent of eligible costs, potentially reducing Bonnyville’s share to $50,000.

What is planned for Bonnyville’s Uptown area?

The Uptown Area Master Plan will look at how municipally owned land near the Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre could be developed over the coming years.

The area has the potential to accommodate a mix of civic facilities, recreational amenities, social services, open spaces and complementary commercial development.

But before anything is built, the Town wants to establish what belongs where, how the different elements could work together and how much future development might cost.

Administration explained that the plan would examine building locations, landscaping, aesthetics and the possible integration of a town square.

The goal is to create a roadmap that Council can use when making future capital budget decisions rather than moving ahead with individual projects without an overall vision.

The plan is intended to guide development in phases over several years.

How is this different from downtown revitalization?

During the meeting, Councillor Phil Kushnir asked how the Uptown project differs from the Town’s downtown revitalization work.

Administration explained that downtown revitalization is much further along.

The downtown study, including design, engineering, colour palettes and other planning details, has already been completed.

The Town is now working to purchase and install elements such as flower planters, wayfinding signs, and welcome signs, with installation expected to continue into summer 2027.

Uptown, meanwhile, is still at the stage of determining what the area could eventually look like.

Administration said it is taking the same approach with the Bougie Baseball Diamonds area, where a separate master plan is also being pursued.

Both projects are intended to provide Council with a clearer understanding of future development opportunities and the costs involved.

A $200,000 allocation could become a $50,000 expense

The Uptown Area Master Plan was originally funded through the Town’s General Capital Reserve.

With the estimated project cost reduced to $100,000, the Town has already identified $100,000 in savings compared with the original allocation.

If the provincial grant is approved and covers half the eligible costs, the Town’s contribution could fall to $50,000.

That would represent a potential $150,000 reduction from the amount originally budgeted.

The Town’s report also notes that savings could be redirected toward future projects if needed.

Council approved the funding application and a letter of support confirming the Town’s financial commitment.

The decision does not approve construction of any new facilities or commercial developments in the Uptown area. Those decisions would come later, once the master plan is developed and Council considers future funding priorities.