The Importance of Parks and Green Spaces as a Core Service.

Published in

Mayor Sohi

5 min readJul 8, 2024

Parks and open spaces are a vital network that connect us to nature, our communities, and to each other. They are more than just green areas, they are gathering places where Edmontonians can come together to enjoy the outdoors alongside friends and family. Whether it’s cooking in the BBQ pits during a family reunion, celebrating a birthday under one of the canopies available for reservation, a badminton match among friends, or skating in the IceWays during winter, our parks offer multipurpose spaces that give the opportunity for connection and enjoyment all year round.

Behind the scenes, our City staff plays a crucial role in taking care of these parks and open spaces: mowing turf, controlling weeds and pests, doing trail maintenance, servicing splash parks and picnic sites, marking sports fields, seasonal cleanups, managing the volunteer programs, and supporting the festivals happening city-wide. Their commitment ensures that the 10,000 hectares of park and open spaces across the City, which include the River valley remain well-kept and functioning properly.

Council remains committed to investing in expanding and enhancing these vital community assets. Through renewal projects and the creation of new outdoor spaces, we are not just preserving what makes our city great, we are also striving to meet the demands of our growing population.

During my time as Mayor, I have supported and advanced multiple projects such as:

Warehouse Park

When running for Mayor, one of my commitments to downtown was to accelerate the construction of the Warehouse park, a project that had been in the works for years. Alongside Council, I remained committed to making the project possible by maintaining the funding for the park in the 2023–2026 Capital Budget, and approving Bylaw 20503 to allow for the rezoning of the land.

I am happy to say that the construction of the park started on July 1st and that by 2026 the downtown community and all Edmontonians will be able to enjoy this green space in the heart of our downtown.

Warehouse Park groundbreaking June 26, 2024

Hawrelak Park Rehabilitation Project

Closing Hawrelak Park for a three year renovation taking into consideration the popularity of this park was no easy decision. However, the rehabilitation project is complex and involves various interrelated scopes of work such as deep underground utilities, park facilities, open spaces, transportation and the environment.

Council approved the funding for this project during the 2023–2026 Capital Budget as we believed that the Hawrelak Park rehabilitation was necessary to make sure that the space is preserved for future generations. Therefore, some of the popular events that the park is known for, such as the Silver Skate Festival, Freewill Shakespeare Festival and Edmonton Heritage Festival have temporarily been relocated. The reopening is anticipated for winter 2025/2026.

kihcihkaw askî-Sacred Land

kihcihkaw askî-Sacred Land is a partnership between the Indigenous Knowledge and Wisdom Centre and the City of Edmonton. It provides a natural setting for Indigenous peoples, groups, and communities to host ceremonies, sweat lodges, and facilitate intergenerational learning. This is the first urban Indigenous ceremonial and cultural grounds in Canada.

I am proud that the 2023–2026 Capital and Operating Budgets included funding for the construction of kihcihkaw askî. I want to thank the partners for their hard work as this site is expected to become a venue where Edmontonians can recognize and revitalize their role in reconciliation by building relationships with Indigenous Peoples and their territories.

Northeast River Valley Park

The Northeast River Valley Park joined the River Valley system in 2023 after the land was acquired by the City. It extends for 190 acres, which makes it larger than Hawrelak Park. Apart from connecting to popular river valley trails, a playground for children, washrooms and other basic amenities, it has unique features such as barn bridges, an ornamental lake, and a large events centre for weddings and gatherings (1,000 capacity).

This park is a reflection of the advocacy of Edmontonians who have been asking for increased access to the River Valley. It will serve current residents and 70,000 future ones, as the space is adjacent to the Horse Hill Area Structure Plan, which includes five future neighbourhoods. It is essential that Council and I continue investing in accessible recreation that fosters healthy living and community.

Beaver Hills House and Michael Phair Renewal

Beaver Hills House Park and Michael Phair Park are two open spaces in Edmonton’s downtown. In April 2024, Council approved Bylaw 20738 to authorize City Administration to undertake, construct and finance the project after multiple public engagement sessions with the residents/Edmontonians.

Our investment of $9.63 million toward the Beaver Hills and Michael Phair Park renewal will bring us a new plaza, renewed planting beds and a children’s play area, as well as a busking stage with new lighting and room for food trucks. The goal of the project is to renew aging infrastructure within the parks and improve the overall design and function. This will subsequently improve safety and accessibility to make it a welcoming place for everyone, and contribute to the vibrancy of our downtown.

Construction is anticipated to start this summer and be completed by 2025.

Heritage Valley District Park

The Heritage Valley District Park is currently in the building phase, and it has been designed to meet the needs of the neighbourhoods in the Heritage Valley area such as Desrochers, Allard, Chapelle, Rutherford, Macewan.

The District Park will be home to multiple sports fields, a variety of open space amenities, a community centre, and two high schools. We want to make sure that Edmontonians in the area have access to multiple recreational opportunities and basic amenities that contribute to a good quality of life and healthy living.

I am committed to listening to Edmontonians so we can continue building an Edmonton for all of us. I hope that as our city continues growing, we can provide access to parks and open spaces for everyone to gather with family and friends, and build community.

I invite you to partake in some of the multiple activities that our more than 1,000 parks offer. Visit Parks and River Valley | City of Edmonton for more information.