by PAUL RAYNER

Although fund-raising continues and profile remains a concern, practical work will soon be starting on a variety of projects at the International Peace Garden.

Often discussed and long planned, the revamps of the border tourist attraction will see movement starting this spring. According to Peace Garden CEO Doug Hevenor, the first will be dealing with their drainage situation.

“The drainage will be done this spring,” Hevenor stated. “There actually will be little to disrupt the garden itself, much of it being in the parking lots or subterranean work.”

The estimated cost of this work is between $800,000 and $1.5 million. It includes carving out culverts, replacing pipes under the sunken garden, improving the catchment basins under the parking lots and being able to move water to both Lake Udall and Lake Stormon. The idea, of course, is to put an end to the flooding out of the floral displays and other areas during years of large rains or heavy winter snowfall.

Hevenor said they are hoping to go to bid soon, expecting to get interested companies bidding from both Manitoba and North Dakota, fairness in the process being highly important.

The sunken garden area, in the middle of the formal gardens, itself will also be seeing some work, with renovations to begin at a cost of about $1.2 million. It will involve a cement patio, walkways and new flowerbeds.

In a somewhat related vein, they have added a new protection for the Peace Garden in the process. Long a problem has been the impact of deer on the area. As they consume many of the plants that so many visitors come to see, they obviously are best kept out of the formal garden. At one time, a hunting season on the American side was even instituted. Now, they have decided to try to simply keep the animals out.

In order to do that, there will be a system of fencing. This will include gated fencing around the formal garden walkways, and wood and fence wire beyond the trees. The move is important, and opens up future possibilities.

“It will protect the entire sunken garden area. We will be able to do things we couldn’t do before. Now we can plant things like tulips and hyacinth. There were annuals and perennials we refrained from using because the deer would eat up the buds. We will be able to do different things now.”

Hevenor said they might be able to involve horticultural societies from both sides of the border in the planting to a much higher degree than was possible before.

“In the past, they would not donate plant material,” he stated, “because it would be eaten.”

They hope to be working on the sunken garden area during the season, and as Hevenor said, it will give people a reason to return over the year, to see the progress.

Another major project might see a start this year as well. The long-sought, multi-phase capital project is $1.5 million in US money away from starting. This is the interpretive centre and botanical garden conservatory. Together, the two buildings would include a restaurant, interpretive space, and a garden for displaying and studying tropical and sub tropical plants. Canada and Manitoba have provided close to $4 million for the project, with the remaining $1.5 to come from American sources.

If that money is found within a few weeks, then construction can start later this year, with a completion date of 2009.

“We really have the pedal to the metal right now to get that last $1.5 million US.”

This has been a challenge. Although they have received American money for things like their continued infrastructure work and projects, most comes from the Government of North Dakota. As Hevenor stated, federal money has been hard to come by, as the US is fighting two wars and suffering economically.

“We’re low on their radar screen.”

Part of the money effort is improving the profile of the Peace Garden. They have updated their web site, have had several articles on the wire services, and Hevenor has been traveling to speak about the attraction. He said they have identified individuals in North Dakota to approach for funding, and they are hoping to get a piece of the expected surplus from that state’s government surplus.

Nonetheless, the above-mentioned projects, as well as continued maintenance work, proves the garden is moving forward and making progress.

“Even if the interpretive centre/conservatory don’t start this year,” Hevenor explained, “we will be doing $3 million worth of work people can see, These projects are real and are happening.”

A special addition to the schedule this year is a new anniversary. The border commissions on both the Canada and US sides will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 49th parallel as the international border at the Peace Garden on June 27. It matches with the PG’s ice cream social and the idea is to have a high-level government presence from both Ottawa and Washington. This sort of event indicates the growing importance of the International Peace Garden, and the value of the continual upgrades.

“It should be another fun time and interesting year,” said Hevenor.