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43-520: The park is in Edmonton's river valley , next to the North Saskatchewan River . Rented paddleboats are used on the artificial lake during summer. The lake is not used for public swimming, but it has been used for the swimming portion of events when Edmonton hosted the 2001 ITU World Triathlon Championship , and since 2014 as a stop on the annual ITU World Triathlon Series . In the winter, the lake

86-577: A combined total length of 103 km (64 mi). The largest urban parks system in Australia is the Western Sydney Parklands , which is 5,280 ha (13,000 acres) in size and 27 km (17 mi) in length. This article relating to urban planning is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article relating to Town and country planning in the United Kingdom

129-521: A concentration of recreational facilities in the river system, service facilities including equipment rentals and food and beverage facilities remain scarce in the river valley. As of 2007, it was estimated that 10 million guests visit the river valley annually, making it the second most visited site in Alberta after the West Edmonton Mall . However, concerns were raised that higher visitation rates to

172-577: A half-century later. All five are currently considered for inclusion on the City's Inventory of Historic Resources.” The Heritage Amphitheatre is western Canada 's largest outdoor amphitheatre , which completed construction in 1985. It has seating for 1,133 people and up to 2,900 people with the surrounding grass area. Each year approximately 50,000 people visit it to enjoy musical, dramatic, and other performances in Edmonton's pleasant summer months. The amphitheatre

215-475: A part of the larger park system. Collectively, these parks form the largest municipally-operated urban park and the largest contiguous area of urban parkland in the country. The park system encompasses over 7,300 hectares (18,000 acres) of land. Several municipal parks and Strathcona Science Provincial Park form the North Saskatchewan River valley parks system. Municipal parks that form a part of

258-472: A variety of flora such as aspen , balsam poplar, white birch , white spruce , and other types of grassland flora. Forests in the river valley contrast other forests in the region, which are more aspen and balsam poplar-heavy dominant; whereas forests in the river valley typically hold a larger amount of black and white spruces. Other types of plants found in the river valley include poison ivy , and Saskatoon serviceberries . The river valley's riparian zone

301-704: A water trail for watercrafts and serves as the binding feature of the park system. The river's flow rate varies between 160 and 250 m /s in May to its peak flow of 250–500 m /s during the summer; making its conditions unsuitable for swimming, although optimal for canoeing, kayaking, and rafting. The river flows across Alberta and Saskatchewan towards Lake Winnipeg and the Nelson River , and eventually into Hudson's Bay . The North Saskatchewan River valley park system extends approximately 88 kilometres (55 mi) and encompasses over 7,300 hectares (18,000 acres) of land; although

344-916: Is host to many of Edmonton's festivals, including the Freewill Shakespeare Festival , Rockfest, Edmonton's Labatt Blues Festival , the Symphony Under the Sky Festival (run by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra ), the Edmonton Heritage Festival (the event that gave the Heritage Amphitheatre its name), and the Interstellar Rodeo Festival. Although the amphitheatre is within Hawrelak Park, it is run by

387-423: Is primarily made up of wetland habitats with grass, sedges, and willows; although in select areas, the forests will extend to the river's edge. The river valley serves as a wildlife corridor for animals to travel to other conservation areas. Because the river valley serves as a wildlife corridor, several wildlife crossings were built in locations where highways cross the river valley. Animals commonly found in

430-400: Is used as a public skating rink . As with all City of Edmonton Parks, the park is open to the public 5 am–11 pm, 365 days a year. The park has walking–hiking trails around the perimeter which can be used for cross-country skiing in the winter. There are picnic sites, a playground, and beach volleyball nets on site. Many of the picnic sites feature fire pits . In 1983, the park was

473-659: The Montgomery County, Maryland portion and provide welcome green space in this urbanized region. A major proposal for a park system was included in Patrick Abercrombie 's 1943-4 County of London Plan . The largest continuous urban parks system in North America is the North Saskatchewan River valley parks system in Edmonton , Alberta , Canada, which is 7,400 ha (18,000 acres) in size and 48 km (30 mi) in length, and also includes 22 ravines, which have

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516-480: The North Saskatchewan River valley in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region of Alberta , Canada. The park system encompasses over 7,300 hectares (18,000 acres) of parkland, making it the largest contiguous area of urban parkland in the country. The park system is made up of over 30 provincial and municipal parks situated around the river from Devon to Fort Saskatchewan , with trails connecting most of

559-513: The 1900s, partly owing to climatic change during the Little Ice Age . The introduction of non-native vegetation may be attributed to the arrival of Métis and European farmers; who also harvested trees for lumber, and used the valley as a grazing area for their livestock. Industrial developments in the river valley occurred during the late 19th and early 20th century, after the establishment of Fort Edmonton . During this period, resources from

602-528: The 1950s to the 1970s. In 1970, the City of Edmonton passed a bylaw that defined the river valley and ravines and regulated developments close to the river valley, and created a long-term policy with the aim to purchase additional river valley lands. Shortly after the plans for the highway were abandoned in 1974, the provincial government created the Capital City Recreation Park, a park system that encompassed several river valley parks, including

645-566: The City of Edmonton Civic Events Office, and not the Parks Department. A wind storm in 2013 ripped the canopy, forcing the replacement of the canopy in 2014, and making events like the Freewill Shakespeare Festival move venues temporarily. The inside area under the stage contains a green room , two dressing rooms, washrooms, and an office, all for staff and performers. Indoor heated and fully serviced washrooms are available at

688-581: The Dawson, Gold Bar , Hermitage, and Rundle parks. During this period, small pieces of land were acquired to complete the trail system planned by the municipal and provincial government; connecting Hermitage Park and the High Level Bridge . The trail system was later extended to other parks in West Edmonton . In 1976, the provincial government also issued Orders-in-Council to restrict developments around

731-508: The RVA plans to fully connect 75 kilometres (47 mi) of the trail system by 2024. An "overarching name" for the Regional Trail system was devised in 2020 between the RVA and the municipal governments. Several hectares of private land were also acquired by the municipal government in 2008 in order to "bridge the gaps" between the river valley's trail system. The river itself is also viewed as

774-506: The back of house for the spectators and areas are set up for vendors to occupy for food and other services. Picnic tables are often set up for grass seating patrons who do not sit in the 1,133 fixed seats, or they may bring seats of their own. Parking has always been a concern for events at the amphitheatre, as there is often more spectators attending the events in the amphitheatre than Hawrelak Park has parking stalls; some parking stalls are also often reserved for staff, performers, and vendors of

817-505: The earliest park systems, in London, came into existence by chance. As London expanded around former royal parks in the nineteenth century, St. James's Park , Green Park and Hyde Park became part of the urban area. This arrangement was admired in France and adopted for the nineteenth century re-planning of Paris by Baron Haussmann . It was also admired by Frederick Law Olmsted and used to create

860-640: The event itself. Park and ride is often available for events, supplied in part by the Edmonton Transit System . The buses come straight to Hawrelak Park from the University of Alberta . North Saskatchewan River valley parks system The North Saskatchewan River valley parks system , also known as the Ribbon of Green or the River Valley Parks , is a continuous collection of urban parks around

903-572: The famous Emerald Necklace in Boston. Another example is Ebenezer Howard 's Adirondack Park concept. These green networks were part of the nineteenth century Garden City Movement . In 1927, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission was formed to plan and acquire parklands along stream valley corridors in the then-rural northern and eastern suburbs of Washington, D.C. Over 33,000 acres (130 km ) are now protected in

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946-433: The need to minimize fragmentation of natural environments and was referred to as " patch and corridor ." In modern landscape architecture , the park system is collaborating with the idea of planning greenways , which run through urban and rural areas. These systems can serve the landscape through ecological, recreational, social, cultural, and healthful measures, and are designed with intentions of sustainability . One of

989-465: The parks together. Proposals to create a large park along Edmonton 's riverfront were first proposed by landscape architect Frederick Todd in 1907, although the formation of a park system did not take shape until the late 20th century. In 1996, the River Valley Alliance (RVA) was formed to coordinate the development of the park system across the metropolitan region. Although large portions of

1032-465: The present post-glacial river valley was created as a result of ice-marginal deposition. Archaeological sites from around the area suggest that the First Nations have used the resources found in the North Saskatchewan River valley for thousands of years, and may have even modified the river valley to a certain degree. The vegetation found in the river valley changed dramatically from the late 1700s to

1075-433: The region per year. The North Saskatchewan River valley helps support a high level of biodiversity. A comprehensive survey of the river valley's fauna and flora does not exist, although it was estimated that there are at least 325 vascular plant species, 50 types of mosses, and 40 lichen species. It is estimated that there are 150 bird species, 50 mammal species, 27 fish species, and seven amphibian and reptile species in

1118-512: The river valley are made up of public parks, portions of it are also held under private ownership. As of 2020, the RVA continues to pursue the acquisition of private land around the river valley in order to fulfill the vision of an uninterrupted, connected trail system. Private facilities located in the river valley include EPCOR Utilities ' Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant. Additionally there exist several thousand properties and residential homes that are situated within 50 metres (160 ft) of

1161-425: The river valley are public parkland, some sections of the river valley are privately owned. In addition to the park system, the river valley is also used by the metropolitan area for stormwater management . Most of the river valley is grasslands , although sections of it are forested. The river valley supports a high level of biodiversity and is used as a wildlife corridor by a variety of animals. The location of

1204-524: The river valley from Devon to Fort Saskatchewan . In 1985, the city of Edmonton approved the North Saskatchewan River Valley Area Redevelopment Act , offering the river valley parks some form of legal protection; and designating the area an environmental protection area to be used for urban parks. A plan to unite the various parks that surrounded the North Saskatchewan River in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region

1247-488: The river valley includes coyotes , great horned owls , lake sturgeons , North American porcupines , pileated woodpeckers , plains garter snakes , walleye , and white-tailed deer . Cougars that have made their way into Edmonton usually arrive via the river valley system. Park system A park system , also known as an open space system, is a network of green spaces that are connected by public walkways, bridleways or cycleways. The concept first emerged with

1290-440: The river valley is made up of grasslands although small sections of it are forested. There are 22 ravines associated with the river valley. Within the city of Edmonton, the river valley and its 14 associated ravines cuts at a depth of 100 to 150 metres (330 to 490 ft). Soil flows are not uncommon along the slopes of the unstable river valley. In years with low snow and rainfall, fires are more common. Although sections of

1333-489: The river valley itself holds 3,556.4 hectares (8,788 acres) of dedicated parkland. Most of the park system surrounds the North Saskatchewan River , a river that cuts northeast through the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, and through the centre of Edmonton. The course of the river has been modified during the early 20th century as a result of damming, and for transportation purposes. Dams have also been built into

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1376-402: The river valley to the tablelands in the 1920s as resources began to flow into the city from further distances; allowing for the river valley's ecosystem to reestablish itself. By the 1920s, the only developments in the river valley in Edmonton were dumps, golf courses, gravel pits, sewage plants, transportation corridors, and other low-intensity developments like parks. The last coal mine in

1419-414: The river valley was closed in 1970. During the mid-20th century, proposals to use the river valley for a highway network were submitted, with work on the freeway beginning at MacKinnon Ravine Park. However, the plan to build the highway was abandoned by 1974 due to public opposition. In 1907, landscape architect Frederick Todd proposed that the city should take advantage of the natural space provided by

1462-450: The river valley were extracted in order to build and maintain the city of Edmonton. The earliest brick-making and coal mining operations in the river valley occurred in the 1840s; with dump sites, gravel pits, and lumber yards built into the river valley during the late-19th and early 20th century. By the 1900s, most of the river valley was cleared of its trees for lumber. Developments and the extraction of resources in Edmonton shifted from

1505-417: The river valley, along with the continued urban developments within it, may cause disruption of local wildlife, and threaten the long-term health of the river valley. The river valley holds more than 160 kilometres (99 mi) of maintained trails that loosely connect the parks together. However, only 90.6 kilometres (56.3 mi) of the trails are paved. Portions of the network are disconnected, although

1548-407: The river valley. A number of public parks and golf courses are located in the river valley. In addition to its recreational uses, the river valley is also used to provide a number of ecological services, including carbon sequestration , erosion control, and stormwater management . Taken together, it is estimated the river valley provides approximately CA$ 350 million to $ 650 million in services to

1591-433: The river valley. The river valley was historically dominated by alder , balsam poplars , and willow trees, although most of these trees were logged during the 19th century. As a result, the majority of the trees that stand in the river valley date after 1900. During this period a number of non-native fruit and vegetable species, shrubs, and trees were introduced into the river system. The river valley presently support

1634-514: The river valley. Acting upon Todd's advice, the City of Edmonton acquired over 100 properties in the river valley to be used as parklands between 1907 and 1931. In 1915, the provincial government adopted a report by Todd to protect the river valley and its associated ravines as a recreational area. In 1933, the City of Edmonton passed a local bylaw to regulate land use and to preserve the river valley as parkland. The city underwent another period where it acquiring private river valley properties from

1677-431: The river, with its waters still used for agricultural purposes. The North Saskatchewan River valley is one of the few remaining natural areas in the region, with other portions of the metropolitan area having been industrialized or urbanized. The river valley has undergone changes due to past human developments; although the depth and slope of the river valley helped to limit the degree of developments within it. Most of

1720-478: The system include: Among the various municipally-maintained parks in Edmonton, the ones located in the river valley hold the highest availability of washrooms and picnic sites. The majority of the parks in the river valley have trails that connect to other areas of the park system. The river valley also holds a number of recreational facilities including baseball fields , dog parks , playgrounds, slipways , sports fields, and tennis courts. Although there exists

1763-963: The track cycling venue for the 1983 Summer Universiade . From 1998 until 2008, the park hosted the Bright Nights Festival around Christmas. Since 1990 the Silver Skate Festival has hosted the Annual Winter Festival of Arts, Culture Recreation and Sport. In 2016 the festival partnered with Ice Castles of America to bring the first ice castle in Canada, and it has called Hawrelak Park home every winter since. The five on site pavilions were designed by Bittorf & Wensley architects and constructed in 1967-68 and 1973. The design style has been described as “West Coast Modernist” and “Organic Expressionist”. According to ForgottenEdmonton: “these pavilions remain an iconic feature of its landscape over

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1806-416: Was conceived during the early 1990s. In 1996, an ad hoc group of volunteers known as the River Valley Alliance (RVA) was formed from municipalities in the metropolitan area that the river passed through, including Devon, Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Leduc County , Parkland County , Strathcona County , and Sturgeon County ; with the aim to connect the riverside parks as a larger park system. The RVA itself

1849-472: Was formally incorporated in 2003. Along with the provincial and federal governments, the RVA led the development of several plans for the park, including a concept plan in 1998, a trail plan in 2000, an updated concept plan in 2003, and a plan of action in 2007. The latter plan being a C$ 605-million plan to develop a metropolitan park system. The North Saskatchewan River Valley park system, including its associated ravines, holds over 30 urban parks forming

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