Kiyām Community Park opening for winter fun in the heart of downtown Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo

Gather with family and friends, get outdoors, and celebrate the holiday season

(Fort McMurray, AB – November 18, 2022) - Municipal staff have been hard at work installing the beautiful 40-foot-tall Christmas tree in its new, permanent home for the holidays at Kiyām Community Park. Residents will soon be able to access the park, as the removal of the construction fencing is expected to begin today.

This inclusive community park at the corner of Franklin and Main will contribute to the vibrancy, beautification and activation of the downtown. Public feedback shaped the final design of the park, and the name was supported and recommended by two Council appointed Committees. In the Cree and Michif languages, Kiyām means “Let it be” and is used when you are at peace with yourself and your surroundings, and nothing anyone does or says can or will affect you or no negativity will touch you.

There’s something for everyone at Kiyām Community Park

Kiyām Community Park offers many features designed to bring people into the park and downtown Fort McMurray across all seasons. Some seasonal deficiency work will be completed in 2023. The park's features will include:

• Ample space to host community events (big and small)
• Natural playground
• Multicoloured atmosphere lights that can be programmed with different colours
• Interactive water fountain during warmer months
• Seating area
• Medicine wheel rock garden
• Outdoor electronic charging stations
• Shade structures
• Inviting pathways, trees, shrubs, and flowers
• Flag poles including one for special events
• Full-size FIBA basketball court and multi-use surface (elements will be completed in 2023.)
• Washrooms (to be installed in 2023
• Additional parking

Public Art is reflected all around Kiyām Community Park

Along the border of the park at 10019 Franklin Avenue is the temporary mural showcasing the region. This mural, designed by Sedef Uzer Prakash, was created as part of the region-wide Pop-up Photography Tour with beautiful images that celebrate the wealth of diversity, meaningful relationships, and the connected communities of Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo, captured by local photographer Crystal Mercredi. The pop-up photography tour was a joint initiative between Public Art Wood Buffalo and Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development and Tourism.

In the heart of Kiyām Community Park are two unique benches. The benches are sister benches from ones in Anzac and Saprae Creek Estates. Public Art Wood Buffalo collaborated with those two communities to create the unique bench designs led by two local artists, Kritsana Naowakhun and Amy Keller-Rempp, as part of the Public Art Bench Program. The designs are inspired through various community engagements.

Funding support and more to come

This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada, with grant administration support through the Government of Alberta. A formal opening ceremony will take place in 2023.

To learn more about initiatives and improvements in downtown Fort McMurray, visit rmwb.ca/downtown.

For further information or questions, please contact Pulse at 780-743-7000, toll-free 1-800-973-9663.

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