Fundraising for upgrades at the Caroline School grounds is underway, with the intent to complete improvements to the football and soccer field, add a walking track, and wheelchair access from the parking lot.

The Caroline School Enhancement Committee is seeking $204,608 in funding to complete the project.

Kirsten Collison, principal of Caroline School says the existing track on the south side of the school is in woefully rough condition.

“Our football team is trying to play on the field, but it’s full of gopher holes,” she says. “We’re bussing students into Rocky Mountain House, because we don’t have a serviceable track.”

Kirsten Collison speaks about the condition of the track behind Caroline School

 

Collison adds, there’s “nowhere” for seniors or young parents to take their kids for a walk in the community, and an upgraded walking track near the school could fill a need.

Long term plans would see the track tied in to a fledgling project from the Caroline Ag Society to create a 10 km walking trail around the community.

Kirsten Collison speaks of the lack of walking options in Caroline

 

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RELATED

• • Clearwater County considers bike trail, dog park proposal for Caroline
  • Caroline organization proposes 3.25 km of paved trail surrounding village
  • Clearwater County seeks grant funding for Caroline infrastructure upgrades

 

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Fundraising effort have so far raised around $40,000 of donations from local businesses and organizations, as well as this spring’s Caroline’s Got Talent event.

Meetings are scheduled with companies which may be interested in donating to the project.

Encouragingly, the group says similar efforts were undertaken by the group some years ago to replace aging, wooden playground equipment at the site. Today, there sits a new “beautiful” playground which organizers say has served the community well.

Clearwater County Reeve Michelle Swanson says that having a serviceable track should be a consideration as Caroline would be part of the equation if the region is successful in hosting the 2028 Alberta Summer Games.

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RELATED

• Town of Rocky Mountain House and Clearwater County propose “split shift” model for 2028 Alberta Summer Games
• Caroline School a “top priority” in Wild Rose School Division’s 2026-2029 capital plan

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The group presented to Clearwater County council on Aug 26.

To allow the organization to maximize a possible matching provincial Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) grant, council will debate granting up to $100,000 to the project at its Sept. 9 meeting.