A view from above of Great Britian's Stonehenge.
A piece of Lions Park on the island in Carbon will be transformed from a regular, grassy area into something quite unique.
“We’re going to put up a ‘mini-Stonehenge’,” said Carbon Mayor Mike Still.
“A huge sun dial, like they used to have a few hundred years ago. We’re going to set up the stones so if you stand in the right particular spot, the sun will set between the stones for the solstices and the equinoxes.”
Solstice and equinox are terms originated from Latin used in astronomy: solstice to indicate the times the sun is at the highest and lowest points, June and December, and equinox occurs twice a year, when the length of day and night are approximately the same-March and December.
Still said the sundial idea came about from his working in North Dakota.
“There’s a town that’s probably half-way the size between Carbon and Drumheller, and just outside their town they’ve got something very similar set up.”
Still thought it beautiful, and in speaking with one of the Council members there, learned it brings large number of visitors every month to come and see it.
“I thought this would be great for our town.”
Still said he’s not aware of anything like it in the province, and thought it would be a unique attraction, for both visitors and potential residents to Carbon.
The Carbon Lions Club has approved $10,000 to put toward the sundial project, and there may be further funds available if needed, that the Recreation Board earned from hosting the Carbon Mud Stomp for two years.
With the approval of Town Council, the Lions Club, and then the Recreation Board approval September 29, Still is now pricing the stone located in a quarry out near Dead Man's Flats close to Canmore.
His goal is to have full stone pillars, but if that proves too pricey, he’ll look at dry stack ledge stone, which is manufactured but looks like natural layers of stone.
“I would like to see it hopefully done by the end of November,” said Still.
Along with this project, the Village of Carbon will be creating a meditation path, or zen walking path, also planned for Lions Park.
