A few years ago, Langenburg Economic Development Officer, Lina Petkeviciene, submitted a proposal to the former Town Council to create a future conceptual design for the Langenburg Rest Area. Following the approval from the Town Council, a Main Street Revamp Committee was formed. After many community engagement sessions and surveys submitted to the town Council, a future Rest Area conceptual design was approved at the end of the last year. “I would like to thank the members of the Main Street Revamp Committee and the people who joined this project on the different stages: Warren Vandenameele, Juli Mitschke, Marion Firby, Jill Faul, Barbara Rindisbacher, Megan Ruzycki, Paul Zwick, Lisa Shauf, LCS students, and Langenburg Business Association. Thank you for your determination and commitment to the project. This group of people also helped to deliver a new town branding, worked on the logo, and banner designs and messages,” commented Petkeviciene.
On May 25, 2021, the Town of Langenburg announced the construction of a fresh public washroom on Main Street. In collaboration with the Main Street Revamping project, the bathroom will be open to the public 24/7. The new washroom will be wheelchair accessible as well as connected to town water and sewer; the Town of Langenburg has expectations to begin construction shortly.
The Rest Area design was created keeping in mind Langenburg’s new town branding, as well as the desire to have not only a tourist rest area but an inclusive, cozy central community park. The hopes for the project are that it will benefit the community and connect town residents, visitors, businesses, the south and north part of the town and a future twelve-kilometre walking trail. Petkeviciene added, “We wanted this park to be the face of our community, a business card, that will attract people to stop, take a rest, shop, and explore what we have to offer”.
More and more people are pursuing local tourism. Increasing numbers of the population are beginning to explore what is being offered in their province. Saskatchewanians are sticking local, and Langenburg is making an extreme effort to increase tourism in the area.
The main features of the park include the “Family and Friends” sign with Mosaic walls that represent the founders and history of Langenburg, a gazebo that reflects Langenburg’s branding idea and a small replica of Langenburg’s Castle tower in Germany. It will also feature a wheelchair-accessible community flower garden with paths and a playground for children, a small dog park, and the new public washroom. The park will feature a photo location, information on the town’s history and other events, and visual links to key community facilities and attractions.
Local tourism has never looked so appealing in our ever-changing world. Initiatives like the new washroom attract newcomers and tourists to the area. Langenburg’s recent efforts to beautify the community have not gone unnoticed. Updating public facilities is a great asset to the town; it creates a welcoming and fresh environment for people to want to partake in. Langenburg’s allure as a gateway community is amplified by taking on projects like a new public restroom.
The Rest Area Revamping project has been divided into preliminary stages; the first stage was approved by the new town Council this year. The first stage is to start the Rest Area Revamping project by bringing water, sewer, and power into the area and the construction of a new washroom.
The current public washroom in Langenburg is very old. The small building is leaning sideways and is in dire need of an upgrade. Petkeviciene mentioned that a good-looking, clean, and accessible washroom is a big part of the welcoming rest area. In addition, the town Main Street does not have a public washroom that could be used while shopping or while utilizing the new walking trail.
“The whole Rest Area design was created keeping in mind handicapped people. We wanted to create a park that would be inclusive and accessible for everyone,” said Petkeviciene. Langenburg strives to be a welcoming community and the decision to make the washroom wheelchair accessible is part of it.
The old public washroom had a tank underneath but was not connected to water, sewer, or power. The new restroom will be located where the old one is now, with three gender-neutral rooms. The public washroom will be 14 x 14. The decision to connect plumbing and power will allow Langenburg to have the washroom open year-round and decrease maintenance costs.
Langenburg Town Council hopes to get construction underway and is expected to be done by September 30, 2021; they are currently in search of a contractor. The submission deadline for the contractor proposal is June 15, 2021, at 14:00 Saskatchewan time. There will be an issued agenda released on June 8, 2021. All questions can be forwarded to Lina Petkeviciene’s email at cdo@langenburg.ca. Answers concerning what contractors will have on this tender will be placed on an agenda released June 8, 2021. The agenda will be published on the town website for those who want to participate in the tender.
The project is a strong initiative to continue to improve Langenburg’s Main Street. With no uncertainties, the project leans itself towards being a great success. The efforts have not gone unnoticed by the community. Creating a welcoming atmosphere in Langenburg will benefit generations of residents to follow.
By: Charlee Mitschke