North Saskatchewan River valley parks system

Last updated
North Saskatchewan River valley parks system
Ribbon of Green, River Valley Parks
North Saskatchewan River Valley Edmonton Alberta Canada 01A.jpg
The North Saskatchewan River valley from Glenora
North Saskatchewan River valley parks system
Type Park system
Location Edmonton Metropolitan Region, Alberta, Canada
Area7,300 hectares (18,000 acres)

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 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 the parks together.

Contents

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 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.

History

The location of the present post-glacial river valley was created as a result of ice-marginal deposition. [1]

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. [2] The vegetation found in the river valley changed dramatically from the late 1700s to the 1900s, partly owing to climatic change during the Little Ice Age. [3] 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. [3]

Fort Edmonton along the North Saskatchewan River, October 1870 Fort Edmonton 1870.jpg
Fort Edmonton along the North Saskatchewan River, October 1870

Industrial developments in the river valley occurred during the late 19th and early 20th century, after the establishment of Fort Edmonton. [4] During this period, resources from the river valley were extracted in order to build and maintain the city of Edmonton. [3] The earliest brick-making and coal mining operations in the river valley occurred in the 1840s; [5] with dump sites, gravel pits, and lumber yards built into the river valley during the late-19th and early 20th century. [3] By the 1900s, most of the river valley was cleared of its trees for lumber. [5] Developments and the extraction of resources in Edmonton shifted from 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. [3]

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. [3] The last coal mine in the river valley was closed in 1970. [5] 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. [4] However, the plan to build the highway was abandoned by 1974 due to public opposition. [4]

Formation of a park system

View of Rundle Park in May 2015 Rundle Park - Edmonton - CA - May 2015.JPG
View of Rundle Park in May 2015

In 1907, landscape architect Frederick Todd proposed that the city should take advantage of the natural space provided by the river valley. [6] 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. [4] In 1915, the provincial government adopted a report by Todd to protect the river valley and its associated ravines as a recreational area. [6] In 1933, the City of Edmonton passed a local bylaw to regulate land use and to preserve the river valley as parkland. [7] The city underwent another period where it acquiring private river valley properties from the 1950s to the 1970s. [4] 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. [7] [6]

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 the Dawson, Gold Bar, Hermitage, and Rundle parks. [4] 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. [4] The trail system was later extended to other parks in West Edmonton. [4] In 1976, the provincial government also issued Orders-in-Council to restrict developments around the river valley from Devon to Fort Saskatchewan. [8]

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. [7] [8]

A plan to unite the various parks that surrounded the North Saskatchewan River in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region was conceived during the early 1990s. [9] 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. [10] [11] The RVA itself was formally incorporated in 2003. [12]

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. [10] [13] The latter plan being a C$605-million plan to develop a metropolitan park system. [14]

Parks

The North Saskatchewan River from Dawson Park, March 2017 Alberta IMG 4343 (25863144797).jpg
The North Saskatchewan River from Dawson Park, March 2017
Edmonton Folk Music Festival EFMF.JPG
Edmonton Folk Music Festival
Terwillegar Park in mid-September. Edmonton, Mid Autumn Terwillegar Park.jpg
Terwillegar Park in mid-September.

The North Saskatchewan River Valley park system, including its associated ravines, holds over 30 urban parks forming a part of the larger park system. [15] Collectively, these parks form the largest municipally-operated urban park and the largest contiguous area of urban parkland in the country. [16] [17] The park system encompasses over 7,300 hectares (18,000 acres) of land. [10]

Several municipal parks and Strathcona Science Provincial Park form the North Saskatchewan River valley parks system. Municipal parks that form a part of the system include: [15]

Among the various municipally-maintained parks in Edmonton, the ones located in the river valley hold the highest availability of washrooms and picnic sites. [21] The majority of the parks in the river valley have trails that connect to other areas of the park system. [21] The river valley also holds a number of recreational facilities including baseball fields, dog parks, playgrounds, slipways, sports fields, and tennis courts. [22] Although there exists 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. [21]

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. [23] However, concerns were raised that higher visitation rates to 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. [13]

Trails

Paved trails at MacKinnon Ravine Park Ravine-Cycle-Path-Edmonton-Alberta-Canada-01A.jpg
Paved trails at MacKinnon Ravine Park

The river valley holds more than 160 kilometres (99 mi) of maintained trails that loosely connect the parks together. [15] [24] However, only 90.6 kilometres (56.3 mi) of the trails are paved. [22] Portions of the network are disconnected, although the RVA plans to fully connect 75 kilometres (47 mi) of the trail system by 2024. [25] An "overarching name" for the Regional Trail system was devised in 2020 between the RVA and the municipal governments. [25] 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. [14]

The river itself is also viewed as a water trail for watercrafts and serves as the binding feature of the park system. [26] The river's flow rate varies between 160 and 250 m3/s in May to its peak flow of 250–500 m3/s during the summer; making its conditions unsuitable for swimming, although optimal for canoeing, kayaking, and rafting. [27] The river flows across Alberta and Saskatchewan towards Lake Winnipeg and the Nelson River, and eventually into Hudson's Bay. [28]

Geography

The North Saskatchewan River with downtown Edmonton in the background. The river cuts northeast through the city. DSCN2103 (11375006976).jpg
The North Saskatchewan River with downtown Edmonton in the background. The river cuts northeast through the city.

The North Saskatchewan River valley park system extends approximately 88 kilometres (55 mi) and encompasses over 7,300 hectares (18,000 acres) of land; [10] [24] although the river valley itself holds 3,556.4 hectares (8,788 acres) of dedicated parkland. [22] 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. [3] The course of the river has been modified during the early 20th century as a result of damming, and for transportation purposes. [3] Dams have also been built into the river, with its waters still used for agricultural purposes. [3]

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. [29] The river valley has undergone changes due to past human developments; [30] although the depth and slope of the river valley helped to limit the degree of developments within it. [3] Most of the river valley is made up of grasslands although small sections of it are forested. [30] There are 22 ravines associated with the river valley. [31] 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). [32] Soil flows are not uncommon along the slopes of the unstable river valley. [33] In years with low snow and rainfall, fires are more common. [33]

Victoria Golf Course, a municipally-operated golf course in the river valley Edmonton area 002.jpg
Victoria Golf Course, a municipally-operated golf course in the river valley

Although sections of the river valley are made up of public parks, portions of it are also held under private ownership. [34] 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. [25] Private facilities located in the river valley include EPCOR Utilities' Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant. [35] Additionally there exist several thousand properties and residential homes that are situated within 50 metres (160 ft) of the river valley. [36]

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 the region per year. [37]

Fauna and flora

The North Saskatchewan River valley helps support a high level of biodiversity. [38] 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. [39] It is estimated that there are 150 bird species, 50 mammal species, 27 fish species, and seven amphibian and reptile species in the river valley. [39]

A pileated woodpecker in the North Saskatchewan River valley Pileated Woodpecker (5232852855).jpg
A pileated woodpecker in the North Saskatchewan 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. [40] As a result, the majority of the trees that stand in the river valley date after 1900. [40] During this period a number of non-native fruit and vegetable species, shrubs, and trees were introduced into the river system. [41] The river valley presently support a variety of flora such as aspen, balsam poplar, white birch, white spruce, and other types of grassland flora. [42] 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. [42] Other types of plants found in the river valley include poison ivy, and Saskatoon serviceberries. [43] The river valley's riparian zone 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. [42]

The river valley serves as a wildlife corridor for animals to travel to other conservation areas. [44] Because the river valley serves as a wildlife corridor, several wildlife crossings were built in locations where highways cross the river valley. [45] Animals commonly found in the river valley includes coyotes, great horned owls, lake sturgeons, North American porcupines, pileated woodpeckers, plains garter snakes, walleye, and white-tailed deer. [46] Cougars that have made their way into Edmonton usually arrive via the river valley system. [47]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edmonton</span> Capital and second largest city of Alberta, Canada

Edmonton is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city anchors the northern end of what Statistics Canada defines as the "Calgary–Edmonton Corridor", a region spanning between Edmonton and the city of Calgary, Alberta's largest city, which includes the many smaller municipalities between the two.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edmonton East</span> Federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada

Edmonton East was a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that was represented in the House of Commons of Canada from 1917 to 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edmonton Metropolitan Region</span> Metropolitan area in Canada, Alberta

The Edmonton Metropolitan Region (EMR), also commonly referred to as Greater Edmonton or Metro Edmonton, is a conglomeration of municipalities centred on Edmonton, the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Park system</span> Connected green spaces

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 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Saskatchewan River</span> River in Western Canada

The North Saskatchewan River is a glacier-fed river that flows from the Canadian Rockies continental divide east to central Saskatchewan, where it joins with the South Saskatchewan River to make up the Saskatchewan River. Its water flows eventually into the Hudson Bay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toronto ravine system</span> Geographical formations in Toronto, Canada

The Toronto ravine system is a distinctive feature of the city's geography, consisting of a network of deep ravines, which forms a large urban forest that runs through most of Toronto. The ravine system is the largest in any city in the world, with the Ravine and Natural Feature Protection Bylaw protecting approximately 110 square kilometres (42 sq mi) of public and privately-owned land. The ravine system has been presented as a central characteristic of the city, with the size of the ravine system leading Toronto to be described as "a city within a park".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mill Creek Ravine</span> River in Alberta, Canada

Mill Creek Ravine is located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and is a part of the River Valley parks and trail system. It contains the last stretch of Mill Creek, before it flows into a culvert for its end run to the North Saskatchewan River. The ravine ends where the land opens onto the North Saskatchewan River valley near the west end of Cloverdale on the opposite bank from downtown.

Crestwood is a residential neighbourhood in west Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, overlooking the North Saskatchewan River valley and nestled between two ravines.

Haddow is a triangle-shaped residential neighbourhood in south west Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is bounded on the south west by Anthony Henday Drive and on the south east by Terwillegar Drive. The northern boundary is an undeveloped strip of land about 29 Avenue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitemud Creek</span> River in Alberta, Canada

Whitemud Creek is a tributary of the North Saskatchewan River in central Alberta, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Urban parks in Canada</span>

Urban parks in Canada are areas that offer recreation and green spaces to residents of a municipality. An urban park is often owned or maintained by a municipal government. However, several parks and green spaces may also be maintained or owned by a conservation authority, regional government, provincial government, or the federal government. Canada's national parks system, managed by Parks Canada, includes one urban park, although the agency has plans to create additional national urban parks.

97/98/101 Avenue and Baseline Road is a major arterial road in central Edmonton and north Sherwood Park, Alberta. It connects Downtown Edmonton with the mature residential neighborhoods on the city's eastern edge, as well as Refinery Row and Sherwood Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellowhead Trail</span> Freeway in Edmonton, Alberta

Yellowhead Trail is a 24.6-kilometre (15.3 mi) expressway segment of the Yellowhead Highway in northern Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It carries a significant amount of truck traffic to and from the industrial areas of north Edmonton and serves as a key commuter route for the bedroom communities of Stony Plain, Spruce Grove, and Sherwood Park, carrying nearly 80,000 vehicles per weekday in 2015. A suburban bypass of the route was completed when the northeast leg of Anthony Henday Drive (Highway 216) opened in late 2016, providing an alternate route through north Edmonton.

Patricia Heights is a neighbourhood in west Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is bounded by the Patricia Ravine of the North Saskatchewan River valley and ravine system to the south and southwest, the Westridge neighbourhood to the west, the Elmwood and Lynnwood neighbourhoods across Whitemud Drive to the north, and the Rio Terrace neighbourhood across 156 Street to the east.

Hermitage is a residential area in the northeast portion of the City of Edmonton in Alberta, Canada. It was established in 1970 through Edmonton City Council's adoption of the Hermitage General Outline Plan, which guides the overall development of the area.

Rat Creek is a tributary to the North Saskatchewan River. Rat Creek was once part of a much larger system which formerly almost connected to the Sturgeon River. However, Rat Creek is now defined as a lost creek, due to the city of Edmonton's encroachment on the surrounding area for urban use. Rat Creek was fed by sloughs that occurred north of Edmonton.

Fulton Creek is a minor tributary which flows into the North Saskatchewan River. Fulton Creek originates within The Meadows area of Edmonton, Alberta. As with other urban Edmonton waterways, with long stretches running through underground culverts, and water volume managed by other urban land uses and for erosion control, Fulton Creek has been labeled a lost creek.

Calgary Trail and Gateway Boulevard are a pair of major arterial roadways in Edmonton, Alberta. Gateway Boulevard carries northbound traffic while Calgary Trail carries southbound traffic. From south of 31 Avenue, they form a two-way freeway separated by a median; for this portion, the roadway maintains the separate names for northbound and southbound traffic. Near 31 Avenue, Calgary Trail and Gateway Boulevard separate and become parallel one-way arterial roadways to Saskatchewan Drive, at the edge of the North Saskatchewan River valley. Designated as part of Highway 2 south of Whitemud Drive, it is Edmonton's main southern entrance and is both a major commuter route, connecting to the Edmonton International Airport and Leduc, as well as a regional connection to Red Deer and Calgary.

References

  1. ↑ Thomson, S.; Townsend, D. L. (10 April 1979). "River erosion and bank stabilization - North Saskatchewan River, Edmonton, Alberta". Canadian Geotechnical Journal. 16 (3).
  2. ↑ Wein 2006, p. 11.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Wein 2006, p. 17.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "A brief history of Edmonton's river valley and ravine system". www.ervcc.com. Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 City of Edmonton 2008, p. 17.
  6. 1 2 3 Wein 2006, p. 18.
  7. 1 2 3 City of Edmonton 2008, p. 28.
  8. 1 2 Wein 2006, p. 19.
  9. ↑ "Founding the RVA". rivervalley.ab.ca. River Valley Alliance. 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  10. 1 2 3 4 City of Edmonton 2017, p. 21.
  11. ↑ City of Edmonton 2008, p. 29.
  12. ↑ "Strategic Plan 2021–2024" (PDF). rivervalley.ab.ca. River Valley Alliance. 2021. p. 16. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  13. 1 2 River Valley Alliance 2007, p. 5.
  14. 1 2 "Filling a gap in valley trail system". www.canada.com. Postmedia Network. 5 January 2008. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2008.
  15. 1 2 3 "River Valley Parks". www.edmonton.ca. City of Edmonton. 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  16. ↑ City of Edmonton 2008, p. 5.
  17. ↑ Forrest, Andrew; St. Clair, Colleen (26 April 2006). "Effects of dog leash laws and habitat type on avian and small mammal communities in urban parks" (PDF). Urban Ecosystems. 9 (2): 52. doi:10.1007/s11252-006-7903-3.
  18. ↑ "Tennis Courts". City of Edmonton. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
  19. ↑ Herzog, Lawrence (2003-07-13). "The Flats Named for Gallagher". Edmonton Real Estate Weekly. Archived from the original on 2010-02-24. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
  20. ↑ "Terwillegar Park | City of Edmonton". www.edmonton.ca.
  21. 1 2 3 City of Edmonton 2017, p. 7.
  22. 1 2 3 City of Edmonton 2017, p. 16.
  23. ↑ River Valley Alliance 2007, p. 7.
  24. 1 2 River Valley Alliance 2007, p. 1.
  25. 1 2 3 "Annual Report 2020: Proudly Connecting Your River Valley" (PDF). rivervalley.ab.ca. River Valley Alliance. February 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  26. ↑ River Valley Alliance 2007, p. 14.
  27. ↑ City of Edmonton 2017, p. 29.
  28. ↑ "North Saskatchewan River". www.edmonton.ca. City of Edmonton. 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  29. ↑ River Valley Alliance 2007, p. 7–8.
  30. 1 2 River Valley Alliance 2007, p. 8.
  31. ↑ Guo, Rui Lin (25 June 2016). "Conserving Edmonton's River Valley and Ravine System". www.sierraclub.ca. Sierra Club Canada Foundation. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  32. ↑ Wein 2006, p. 138.
  33. 1 2 Wein 2006, p. 139.
  34. ↑ River Valley Alliance 2007, p. 6.
  35. ↑ Ryan, Sarah (26 February 2018). "Wastewater treatment plant to expand into Gold Bar Park". Global News. Corus Entertainment. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  36. ↑ McGee, Tara (2007). "Urban residents' approval of management measures to mitigate wildland–urban interface fire risks in Edmonton, Canada" (PDF). Landscape and Urban Planning. 82: 249.
  37. ↑ River Valley Alliance 2007, p. 10.
  38. ↑ City of Edmonton 2008, p. 13.
  39. 1 2 Wein 2006, p. 90.
  40. 1 2 Wein 2006, p. 92.
  41. ↑ Wein 2006, p. 92–93.
  42. 1 2 3 City of Edmonton 2008, p. 12.
  43. ↑ City of Edmonton 2008, p. 21.
  44. ↑ Wein 2006, p. 103.
  45. ↑ City of Edmonton 2008, p. 43.
  46. ↑ City of Edmonton 2008, p. 22–24.
  47. ↑ "Cougar numbers and encounters on the rise in Alberta: ecology expert". CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 September 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2021.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.