BARRHEAD – The Communities in Bloom Judges were in Barrhead on July 10 to do the annual judging of the Town of Barrhead.
Mayor Dave McKenzie said Communities in Bloom is valuable for the economic development of the community.
"The first thing you see when you come into a community is that it is tidy, appealing and bright,” said McKenzie.
“I think it just fits into the general mosaic of our community.”
Shelley Batdorf, president of the Barrhead Communities in Bloom group, provided a smorgasbord of beautiful sites, parks, flower and plant features and activities.
From last year's visit when the judges were in Barrhead to evaluate the community, there have been some changes in town.
The FCSS Van-Go bus toured the judges and dignitaries around, looking at all of the wonderful features around Barrhead.
The Barrhead Communities in Bloom group has ten volunteers and is always looking for more people to get involved.
Their theme is edible gardens, and this year they have mixed flowers with vegetables in the flower planters, with the largest feature in front of the ATB bank.
There are white cherry tomatoes, peanut plants and parsley, to name a few. People in town are welcome to enjoy the fruit off these plants as they grow.
The Barrhead group has had kids’ activities like building bat houses in February with a homeschool group.
They had Lisa Bard, the ALUS representative, come and talk about bats.
Volunteers Renee and Diana painted the bat houses and they were donated within the community.
Tammy Schmermund from Barrhead Parks and Recreation shared information on the maintenance to the planters and trees along Main Street.
There were more than ten new trees planted along Main Street this year. The planters are environmental water reserves to focus on water conservation.
There has been a lot of work done and trees planted at Rotary Park on the South side. Cecil Martin Park has also been upgraded with several new trees.
Part of the Blue Heron Walk is getting a makeover to make that area more appealing and safer for walkers. At Denthor Park, there has been a cement pad for basketball installed, and it has changed the dynamics in that park.
In the wintertime, the surface is flooded, and a skate trail is built.
The All-Wheel Skateboard Park is a busy family attraction, and the Town is putting up a bicycle skills park likely this summer.
All the parks and the Town have signage that identifies these parks and areas for people to enjoy, and the mayor hears positive feedback on the impression Barrhead makes on people.
The Town also focuses on environmental impacts. There are solar panels on the Agrena, wetlands throughout town and close to the water processing plant and water conservation planning and implementation with the plant life in town.
Betty Gadory’s garden was one of the stops to have a look at her combination flower and vegetables garden with recycled elements through-out.
The entire group was spellbound by the beauty of her garden and all the amazing features.
Van-Go travelled through parks and roadways offering views of the residents’ impressive flower features through town as well as the Paddle River golf course flower features.
Communities in Bloom across Canada has changed in the last year and is are now a nonprofit society in Alberta.
