A lot has changed over the past 20 years. But the man who built the original plans for the local riverfront – landscape architect Ted Muller – is still designing streetscapes, open spaces, waterfronts and trail systems around Canada.
At the request of the Athabasca Riverfront Design Committee, Muller’s back in the Town of Athabasca, designing the next phase of the town’s riverfront.
On June 7, town council voted to allocate $30,000 to a new Riverfront Plan. At that council meeting, public committee member Mike Gismondi said that over the past 20 years, there had been enough amendments and accommodations to the original plan to warrant a redesign.
The committee has been meeting with Muller, and after discussions a plan has been set and is getting ready for public consultations.
“I was certainly thrilled,” Muller said. “We’ve lost touch over the years, I guess. Although I have kept somewhat in touch – I drive through (Athabasca) on a semi-regular basis, so I could see what was going on.”
“I was excited,” Gismondi said. “You had the original eyes on it, before we built it. And then he’s seen what we’ve attempted to do, and then some of the physical buildings that we did and some of the things that we’re even anticipated in the plan are there now.”
When asked about the new plans, Gismondi said that he did not want to “give it all away” before the public consultations. He noted, however, that some of the highlights of the new plan include things to spruce the town up during the colder months, like fire pits and extra lighting for the long nights as well as an outdoor skating rink.
“We’re doing really well for summer uses, and festivals and events in the good weather,” he said. “Other things, we could begin to do, to strengthen it in the winter.”
Gismondi also noted that the more people are at the riverfront, the more “social policing” happens, and the less graffiti and damage there will be.
“This is ours,” he said. “We value it. Let’s look after it.”
The first public open house is set to take place at the Athabasca Train Station on Nov. 9 from 7-9 p.m., with poster boards detailing the proposed plans and a presentation at 7:45 p.m.
