After receiving a grant from Fortis Alberta to be spent on 10 park benches, the Town of Olds is seeking public input on what they should look like.According to Heather Dixon, a community facilitator for Olds, the town is accepting artistic submissions as well as general suggestions.“Some of the things that are coming back to us of course (are) things that have to do with agriculture, horses, cattle, farm fields, the Pioneer grain elevator,” Dixon said. “Then other things, like the mountains represent Olds to a number of people. Animals, families walking, maybe. There's things like that coming in for sure.”Each bench costs about $1,000, Dixon said and the grant was meted out near the end of July.The benches will be situated along paths and parkways throughout town.Drawings of potential designs will be displayed on Sept. 4, when the town holds an information and registration night.There, people will have the chance to vote for their favourite ones.“So we'll have pictures up at the information and registration evening and at that point, we'll have little stickers that people can kind of (put) on the ones they like,” Dixon said.Five designs will be selected and applied to two benches each, she said.Once they are picked, Olds Iron Works will be building the benches, she added.Though none have been submitted yet, Dixon said she's talked to about 40 community members and comfort has been flagged as a priority.That is why the town has a sample bench located at town office available for public viewing.“Really community driven, having the people of Olds really be able to have a say in what they're going to be sitting on and looking at in our recreation areas.”[email protected]
