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Objectives
of the Forth Junction
Heritage Society
Note: The Forth Junction Heritage Society's primary
purposes are education and preservation of the history of railways,
transit and pioneer trails as they have evolved in Central Alberta.
This includes the creation and promotion of the vision and concept
for the Forth Junction Project and its elements but not necessarily
its implementation and physical development.
Activities
and implementation that go beyond the primary objectives of the Society
(education and preservation) are envisioned to be administered by a
not-for-profit corporation, municipality or by independent
businesses.
The Forth Junction Project is a bold visionary concept proposed by
the Forth Junction Heritage Society to establish a world-class
visitor and community destination in the immediate Red Deer area to
celebrate the past, present and future of trains, transit and trails
in an interactive and entertaining way for all members of the family
to enjoy.
The Vision and Objectives of the Forth Junction
Project
as determined by the Society Board at a
strategic planning retreat in January 2011:
- help to establish Red Deer as a transportation and culture themed
world class community and visitor
destination celebrating the role and evolution of trails, trains and
transit in the settlement and economic
development Central Alberta as representative of Western Canada;
- investigate possible sites for the project with sufficient land to accommodate future opportunities for
attracting
restored artifacts, an operating railroad and national travelling
transportation exhibits;
- establish an interactive, interpretive, fun and educational park
with multi-media exhibits, artifacts and
representations of the past,
present and future of trains, transit and trails close to a significant railway
historic site or an active railway in Central Alberta close to Red Deer
and close to a regional trail system and
natural areas;
- establish Canada's largest interactive historical miniature
railway museum in one or more buildings that
recreates historic milestones and period infrastructure to visually demonstrate the evolution of the role of
railways in the economic development of the Red Deer region;
- promote to other entities the development of a sustainable transportation-focused
heritage and
entertainment centre to complement the park as a Red Deer area landmark community gathering and
visitor structure;
- promote to other entities the development of a transportation-themed
railway station heritage resort that
includes the replication of several
historic regional railway station designs as overnight accommodation
to
complement the park;
- co-ordinate the various transportation and
cultural heritage icons and attractions of Central Alberta for
integrated guided tours;
- advocate for a pedestrian and bicycle trail system using abandoned railway
rights of way;
- arrange for a 1/8 scale replication of the unique semi-streamlined Jubilee
F2a locomotive 3001 that once
headed the fast 'Chinook' Calgary-Edmonton passenger train.
All aspects of the Forth Junction vision are compatible with and
complementary to the following existing adopted plans:
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The Red Deer River Valley and Tributaries Park Plan;
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The Red Deer County Open Spaces Master Plan;
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The Mintlaw Bridge Public Access Strategy
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