North Saskatchewan River valley parks system
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The North Saskatchewan River valley parks system is a continuous collection of urban parks in the North Saskatchewan River valley of Edmonton, Alberta
Edmonton's river valley constitutes the longest stretch of connected urban parkland in North America, and Edmonton has the highest per capita area of parkland of any Canadian city. The river valley is 22 times larger than New York City's Central Park. The public river valley parks provide a unique urban escape area with park styles ranging from fully serviced urban parks to campsite-like facilities with few amenities. This main 'Ribbon of Green' is supplemented by numerous neighbourhood parks located throughout the city, to give a total of 111 square kilometres (27,400 acres) of parkland. Within the 7,400 hectare (18,000 acre), 25 kilometre (15.5 mi) long river valley park system there are eleven lakes, fourteen ravines, and twenty-two major parks. Most of the city has excellent bike and walking trail connections.[1] These trails are also part of the 235 km Waskahegan walking trail.
Several golf courses, both public and private, are also located in the river valley. The long summer daylight hours of this northern city provide for extended play well into the evening. Golf courses and the park system become a winter recreation area during this season. Cross-country skiing and skating are popular during the long winter. Four downhill ski slopes are located in the river valley as well, two within the city and two immediately outside.
The City of Edmonton has named five parks in its River Valley Parks System in honour of each of "The Famous Five".
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[edit] Parks and facilities
The largest area in the river valley is occupied by municipal parks:
- Hermitage Park
- Forest Heights Park
- Emily Murphy Park
- Rundle Park
- Dawson Park
- William Hawrelak Park
- Gold Bar Park
- Louise McKinney Park
- Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park
- Goldstick Park
- Queen Elizabeth Park
- Whitemud Park
- Capilano Park
- Kinsmen Park
- Terwillegar Park
- Kinnaird Park and Ravine
- Victoria Park
The City also operates several public facilities in the river valley:
- Fort Edmonton Park
- Valley Zoo
- Muttart Conservatory
- John Jazen Nature Centre
- Riverside Golf Course
- Victoria Golf Course (the oldest municipal course in Canada)
- Rundle Park Golf Course
The provincial government owns the following sites in the river valley:
- Strathcona Science Provincial Park
- Alberta Legislature Building and grounds
- Royal Alberta Museum and Government House
Hiking, cycling, and multi-use trails run throughout these parks and connect to other trails through the city and outside as well forming an integrated system. The river valley parks in particular are part of the Waskahegan and Trans Canada trail systems.
[edit] Wildlife
Edmonton's streets and parklands are also home to one of the largest remaining concentrations of healthy American Elm trees in the world, unaffected by Dutch Elm disease, which has wiped out vast numbers of such trees in eastern North America. Jack Pine, Lodgepole Pine, White Spruce, White Birch, Aspen, Green Ash, Basswood, various poplars and willows, and Manitoba Maple are also abundant; Bur Oak is increasingly popular. Introduced tree species include Blue Spruce, Norway Maple, Red Oak, Sugar Maple, Common Horse-chestnut, McIntosh Apple, and Evans Cherry. Three walnut species -- Butternut, Manchurian Walnut and Black Walnut -- have survived in Edmonton.[2]
[edit] Politics and planning
The River Valley Alliance is a grouping of municipal governments in the Edmonton region that have committed to expanding the River Valley Parks System outside of Edmonton's city limits. The plan calls for a 18,000-acre (73 km²) zone to be called the "Capital Region Valley Park" stretched over 88 kilometres running from Devon to Fort Saskatchewan.[3]
In January 2008, the City of Edmonton paid a record C$7 million to buy a parcel of land to fill in a gap in the otherwise continuous chain of parks. The city further promised to spend C$20 million of pedestrian bridges and trails, but said that the as yet unnamed park would be left in an undeveloped state.[4]
[edit] Notes
- ^ City of Edmonton, Transportation Department (January, 2007). Edmonton Roadway Bicycle Map (pdf). City of Edmonton. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
- ^ Barkley, Shelley (2007-05-22). Juglans sp. (Butternut/Walnut). Government of Alberta. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
- ^ Our Vision. River Valley Alliance. Retrieved on 2008-01-02.
- ^ Filling a gap in valley trail system. Edmonton Journal (2008-01-05). Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
[edit] External links
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