Longview wins ARPA 'Parks Excellence Award'!

Congratulations goes out to the Longview Arts, Recreation and Community (ARC) Society for winning the ARPA 'Parks Excellence Award'!  This award was initiated by ARPA's Parks and Open Space Network to recognize achievements or innovative ideas for parks and open space operations, and also to increase the profile of the parks and open space professionals in Alberta.

The Longview ARC Society was formed as a natural progression from their involvement as an ACE Community. A number of areas for improvement were identified upon completion of the community scanning tool including two community desires: a gathering spot and recreational opportunities for the community.  The ARC devised a wish list for an inclusive community space that included everything from necessities to playground, fitness and skateboard equipment.

May 2011, ARC partnered with Longview Council, the Serenity Garden and Veteran’s Memorial Committee, Longview Stampede Association and the Longview Recreation Board to spearhead a fundraising program for the project which they named Longview “Xtreme Makeover”.  The ARC applied for a CFEP Grant with the Longview Recreation Board, Council and the MD of Foothills #31 to put a concrete pad in the rink making it multi season/multi use.

The ARC secured one of 30 annual Canada wide awards from Let Them Be Kids of which 50% went towards all of the above mentioned equipment and matched this award with a variety of corporate donations, fund raising, philanthropic foundations and provincial grants. With the assistance of volunteer labour from the village and surrounding area, the group installed a junior and senior playground, thirteen pieces of outdoor fitness equipment, picnic tables, benches and litter receptacles in Centennial Park. The group also secured funding to install skate board equipment in the outdoor rink adding another use to the structure.

The ARC Society secured funding from Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Association to purchase additional fitness and were able to hired a fitness instructor to teach the community how to use the new equipment. This fitness program was called Go ME!!, an acronym for Go Out Move and Exercise. The program ran for the entire summer free of charge and welcomed adults, seniors, youth, moms and tots. The ARC Society has had numerous citizens report increased mobility, increased stamina, weight loss and cases of uncontrollable laughter as they have more and more fun together!

The Centennial Park in Longview has truly become the focal point of Longview’s small rural community.

Longview gets active for the summer!

Congrats to the ACE Community of Longview who has now completed the 2^nd installment of their Xtreme town makeover! This accomplishment included the installation of their skateboard park as well as the remainder of the fitness equipment in Centennial Park.

The residents of Longview and their ARC Society would like to send out special thanks to 16-years old Austin Caumartin. Austin worked especially hard and was a key factor in helping assemble the whole skate park! Well done, Austin... this skate park is for you!

This means that Longview’s free Summer exercise-in-the-park program called GO ME!  (Go Out Move and Exercise!) is now up and operating.

The Longview ARC Society has been successful in securing funds from the Alberta Government and Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Association to run a 15-week fitness program in Centennial Park from June until mid September. This program, entitled GO ME!, will show local residents how to use the newly installed exercise equipment and participate in regular exercise classes tailored to meet all ages, levels and abilities.

Please register for classes online at http://www.longviewaceprojects.weebly.com

Way to begin the summer on an active note, Longview!  You are as inspiring as always!

Longview's Big Build Day!

Congrats to the town of Longview (population 350) who had over 100 volunteers come out on October 15th to build a play park in the centre of town as well as start a veterans' memorial and serenity garden in front of the Longview Village Office. Through various fundraising activities, Longview volunteers (with the assistance of the town) put into place $160,000 worth of playground equipment. Funding for this build started with their ACE Communities seed money but also included government grants, local fundraising efforts, and corporate sponsorship from local Longview businesses as well as organizations like Legacy Gas.



In a recent article from the High River Times, ACE Leader Geistlinger couldn't express just how thankful she was for everything the community did on Saturday and is looking forward to when the community gets another opportunity to step up and do another project.

"You guys have not let me down," she told the gathered crowd at the unveiling of the play park. "I am just blown away by your dedication to this. I feel like we are family and that this is our town."

This project was intiated through community surveys as part of Longview's two years as an ACE Community. Longview went on to partner with Let Them Be Kids to help them maximize their playground build. The next stage of the Longview's Xtreme Makeover will happen next spring with the conversion of a local outdoor skating rink into a summer skate park. The build will also include the addition of tennis nets and basketball hoops at one end of the skate park. This stage of the project is estimated to reach just under $100,000.



For more details on the build see the above mentioned High River Times article as well as pics in the ACE Communities Digital Gallery.

Way to go, Longview! We knew you could do it!