Neat to Know: July 16, 2026 | City of Medicine Hat

Jul 16, 2026

Neat to Know is a roundup of City news, updates, and other important information. You can expect to see the week's most interesting content and even some that may have not been delivered through our regular channels.

Echo Dale Swim Lake closed for the season

City to launch water safety campaign

Following the tragic incident in June that resulted in the death of a child, the swim lake at Echo Dale Regional Park will remain closed for the rest of the 2026 season.

We will continue to focus on supporting those affected by the tragedy and will await the results of an independent review being conducted by the Lifesaving Society of Alberta and NWT Branch.

All other amenities at Echo Dale Regional Park will remain open and available to the public.

We will also proceed with a community-wide water safety awareness campaign that was developed prior to the incident and scheduled for launch this summer.

Read our news release to learn more.

Lions Park courts reopen

We’ve finished upgrading the courts in Lions Park and they’re open to the public!

This construction project renewed the court surface, improve surface drainage on and around the courts, upgrade lighting, and revitalize landscaping.

The courts have also changed from two multi-use courts (tennis and pickleball) to one tennis court and four pickleball courts. Like all public courts, the Lions Park facility is open for all to use on a first-come, first-served basis, unless a tournament, special event or facility booking has been approved.

There are still some minor finishing touches required for the fence, landscaping, and surrounding trail, but we prioritized getting the court open for public use as soon as possible.

This outstanding work won’t affect public access to the courts. Users may notice a bit of water on the courts while we increase irrigation to establish the new landscaping in this heat, but this will be temporary.

We hope you enjoy the upgraded facility!

Portable skate ramp pilot project returns

The portable skate ramp pilot project is back!

The ramps will be available daily from July 15 to August 20 in the Kinplex 2 arena.

We're excited to make these ramps available again after a quick break to dampen the noise with spray foam and to find a great new location.

We hope you enjoy the indoor skate park vibes this summer!

Please note Kinplex 2 will be closed from July 20-26 for the Medicine Hat Stampede, but it will reopen on July 27.

Read our full news release to check out the hours of operation and more.

Stay safe in the heat

As the forecast climbs back above 30 degrees on Friday and over the weekend, it's important to stay safe and cool in the heat!

Remember to:

Close your blinds and use fans or AC if possible.
Plan outdoor activities for early morning or evening.
Stay hydrated with water and avoid caffeine and alcohol.
Visit the Big Marble Go Centre, Medicine Hat Public Library, Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre, City Hall vestibule, or Medicine Hat Mall to cool off during regular hours of operation.

You can also take advantage of our 10 water bottle fill stations if you need water when outdoors.

Check on loved ones, especially those who are vulnerable, and keep an eye on your pets. Let's enjoy summer safely!

For more information about how to stay safe in the heat, visit albertahealthservices.ca/heat

Stampede Parade

Thursday, September 23 | 9 a.m. | Downtown

Yeehaw! We’re rootin’ and we’re tootin’ because there’s just one week until the Stampede parade takes over downtown Medicine Hat on Thursday, July 23 at 9 a.m. Pack your sunscreen and water and mosey on down here, partner!

Head to mhstampede.com/parade to scope out the route.

Our crews and our cars are accountable to the rules of the road

Most City fleet vehicles are equipped with Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) technology - a smart system that does much more than GPS navigation. AVL helps us keep vehicles in top shape by tracking mileage, engine hours and maintenance needs, while also helping departments locate and dispatch the closest vehicle when needed.

Importantly, AVL also promotes safe driving by providing real-time data on things like speed, braking and seatbelt use. If a vehicle is speeding, the system alerts the driver with a friendly beep, and managers receive daily reports for follow-up. So, if a City vehicle is driving the speed limit, it's not just being courteous, it's being accountable. If you're behind us, give us a wave, and the room to safely get where we're going.

Medicine Hat Transit – Route 10 survey

Transit has consistently had difficulty staying on schedule on Route 10 NE Crescent Heights. During times of increased ridership this can mean missed connections which affect the schedules of other buses in the system.

Medicine Hat Transit is proposing changes to Route 10 which will:

Improve schedule reliability across all routes
Maintain access to all existing bus stops

In some cases, changes require accessing stops from the opposite side of the street or using a different route.

We’re gathering feedback to assess impacts, concerns, and opportunities related to this pilot change.

Take a quick survey between July 16 to August 15, 2026 to provide your feedback.

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