Mayor Jeff Genung says the public will have a say on whether the Lions Rodeo Grounds remain at its Fifth Ave. location or if it will be moved out of the downtown core. What seems certain, though, is the musings over what will happen there will finally come to an end this year.

During the afternoon session of the public consultation on town council's strategic priorities, Mar. 6, the mayor said the town is embarking on a study to determine how to utilize all of its holdings in the downtown core that including the large Fifth Ave. land, a one-acre lot next to the Nan Boothby Memorial Library building and the former Esso Bulk Station site, both on Railway St.

Genung says the club has indicated they wish to stay but they have also said they are willing to do what's best for the community. 

"We are going to embark on our study with the premises that they will be staying. If the studies tell us and the community says no we don't want the rodeo grounds downtown, obviously we would move them out of town but we would work together."

"We have to start somewhere and we are starting at the beginning with the premise they are staying. I think this is a much different message than saying, 'We don't know, you tell us'."

Organizations, like the Seniors on the Bow, have expressed an interest in moving downtown and the Cochrane Public Library is eager to expand. Other ideas floated include adding supportive living seniors housing downtown and a larger, centralized location for social programs umbrellaed under Family and Community Support Services. The Boys and Girls Club, too, has been pressed for room and are seeking more space. And then there's the transit hub concept, for which the former Esso Bulk Station land was originally purchased.

Mayor Genung says these are all are among the factors being considered.

What is certain is council is supportive of keeping the Fifth Ave. location as public land and may well have put to rest the idea of adding more commercial space and multi-housing to the upper bench that was pointed out as a possibility in the 2013 Downtown Integrated Action Plan. That plan has largely been ignored.

"Our hope is to have that wrapped up and done by the end of the year and that is a priority of council."

Town CAO Dave Devana added the town's holdings in the downtown core provide an opportunity to increase its presence there. There also exists the potential to create couplings for such things as including Cochrane Tourism in the town's existing information centre on 1st St. W.

At the Feb. 27 council meeting, Mayor Genung clarified his position on the Lions Rodeo Grounds and believe it was being misrepresented by some. He stressed the views he presented at a chamber of commerce state of the town address were his own and council had not made any decision on the land. He also said a public consultation would be part of the decision.

Discussions with the Lions Club have only begun recently.

Currently, the Fifth Ave. site is home to the Lions Rodeo Grounds, Cochrane Lions Events Centre, Boys and Girls Club, two ball diamonds and a horseshoe pitch.It was also the location of the Big Hill Leisure Centre that has since been demolished.