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World-class destination centre
still in the works
Penhold's Paul Pettypiece says dream of the Forth Junction Project
is an issue of timing
Reprinted from Innisfail
Province (Sylvia Cole)
online edition November 19, 2013; printed edition December 3, 2013
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Paul Pettypiece said there hasn't been recent movement with
the Forth Junction Project due to the recent municipal
election and the current economic climate.
Photo by
Johnnie Bachusky, Innisfail Province
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Although on a bit of a hiatus, the Forth Junction Project is still a
go, says Penhold's Paul Pettypiece.
"The dream isn't lost, it's just a matter of timing," said
Pettypiece, president of the Forth Junction Heritage Society during
an interview last week.
The society has big plans to create a world-class destination in
Central Alberta that would preserve and share the transportation
heritage of the region.
The planned Transpo Centre is a multi-phase project to be completed
over 25 years and would include an indoor amusement and family
activity park, a retro bus depot and transit museum, a conference
hall, observation tower and restaurant as well as a railway station
heritage resort.
Originally plans were to create the heritage resort in the county,
and the remaining amusements in the Riverlands district of Red Deer.
But since learning the city had other plans for that area, the
society has combined the two ideas and are looking to build it
somewhere in the county.
At least 12 Red Deer County locations where the 40-acre project
could be completed have been identified. The hope is to have it
within 20 kilometres of the city, which is the main transportation
hub, an integral part of the area's history.
"When Red Deer was chosen as the distribution point it was no bigger
than Innisfail," said Pettypiece, explaining how that key decision
played a role in making Red Deer a city.
"Innisfail could have been the main distribution centre."
Pettypiece said there hasn't been much movement on finding land or
collecting dollars because of a couple of roadblocks.
"With the (municipal) election we also wanted things to settle a bit
first and the economic situation hasn't been right," he said of
getting both political and financial support. He also said his work
has become busier, meaning the time to spend on this project has
been set aside.
The group, currently made up of 15 active members, is "satisfied to
put it on hold and pursue it at another time."
Pettypiece hopes a year from now they can pursue their dream more
strongly. He said it's important to preserve and share the history
of transportation in the region because of the impact it had on
shaping the communities.
"Red Deer was the hub of railway activity and transit," said
Pettypiece.
"Other communities that were thriving were doing so because of the
railway," he said using Innisfail and Olds as examples.
"You can go one step further and say the railroads helped with the
development of Western Canada generally," he said.
In the meantime, the society still meets regularly and will hold its
annual general meeting tomorrow night where Pettypiece will present
the PowerPoint, "Railways as Parents of a City."
The group has been busy assisting other societies with projects such
as the Central Alberta Historical Society's Arches project that was
unveiled in October and features interpretive plaques that celebrate
the influence of transportation and railway on the development of
the city.
"In all likelihood it wouldn't have become a city," he said.
In addition, the group is also friends with the Central Alberta
Regional Trail Society as advocates for using abandoned rail lines
as trails.
"We've been continuing with collecting historical information and
have worked on creating an online Facebook presence."
To learn more about the group and its activities, its Facebook pages
include the Forth Junction Project, the Forth Junction Heritage
Society and Friends of the Mintlaw Trestle.
Central Alberta Regional Trails Society
News articles about the Forth Junction Heritage Society (more
below):
Editorial: Praise today's big dream
(Innisfail Province Jan.2012)
Editorial: Railway concept captures region's uniqueness
(Olds Albertan Jan.2012)
Feature article: Forth Junction targets county
(Mountain View Gazette Dec.2011)
News article: Forth Junction pulling toward a
new station
(Red Deer Advocate Dec.2011)
News articles related to ACR/CPR Mintlaw bridge
mentioning the Forth Junction Heritage Society:
News article: Plans for Mintlaw Bridge waiting
on public feedback
(Mountain View Gazette Feb.2012)
News article: Opposition comes forward to Mintlaw Bridge preservation
(Mountain View Gazette May 2011)
News article: RD County antes up for Mintlaw
Bridge repairs
(Mountain View Gazette Nov.2010)
News article: Bridging gap between history and
disrepair
(Red Deer Advocate Nov.2010)
News article related to regional model and miniature railways
mentioning the Forth Junction Project:
News
article: Trains still roll for some
(Red Deer Advocate Nov.2012)
News articles related to historic downtown Red Deer redevelopment
mentioning the Forth Junction Project
(the original vision of the Forth Junction Heritage Society included
an attraction in the new downtown
Riverlands but this vision was modified to have one destination
close to the city and active rail line):
News article: Railyards: Open house on a
20-year plan for downtown (Red Deer Advocate June 2011)
News article: Riverlands: Strong turnout for
open house (Red Deer Advocate
March 2011)
Commentary: Red Deer could use more bold
visionary landmark designers
(Red Deer Express Sep.2010)
Michael Dawe articles related to regional railway heritage
mentioning the Forth Junction Heritage Society:
Region celebrating century of railroad
heritage
(Red Deer Express March 2010)
Mintlaw Bridge essential to region's railroad
heritage
(Red Deer Express March 2010)
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