North Saskatchewan River valley parks system
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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 An urban park or metropolitan park, also known as a municipal park (North America) or a public park, public open space, or municipal gardens ( UK), is a park in cities and other incorporated places that offer recreation and green space to re ...
around the
North Saskatchewan River 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 eventual ...
valley in the
Edmonton Metropolitan Region The Edmonton Metropolitan Region (EMR), also commonly referred to as Greater Edmonton or Metro Edmonton, is a conglomeration of municipalities centred on Alberta's provincial capital of Edmonton. The EMR's commonly known boundaries are coincide ...
of
Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...
, Canada. The
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 the need to minimize fragmentation of natural environments and was r ...
encompasses over 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 Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devon is ...
to
Fort Saskatchewan Fort Saskatchewan is a city along the North Saskatchewan River in Alberta, Canada. It is northeast of Edmonton, the provincial capital. It is part of the Edmonton census metropolitan area and one of 24 municipalities that constitute the Edmont ...
, with trails connecting most of the parks together. Proposals to create a large park along
Edmonton 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 ancho ...
's riverfront were first proposed by landscape architect
Frederick Todd Frederick Gage Todd (March 11, 1876 – February 15, 1948) was the first resident landscape architect in Canada. For the majority of his life he was one of a small group committed to the art and practice of structuring urban growth in the first ...
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 Stormwater, also spelled storm water, is water that originates from precipitation (storm), including heavy rain and meltwater from hail and snow. Stormwater can soak into the soil ( infiltrate) and become groundwater, be stored on depressed land ...
. Most of the river valley is
grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses (Poaceae). However, sedge (Cyperaceae) and rush (Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes, like clover, and other herbs. Grasslands occur natur ...
s, although sections of it are forested. The river valley supports a high level of biodiversity and is used as a
wildlife corridor A wildlife corridor, habitat corridor, or green corridor is an area of habitat connecting wildlife populations separated by human activities or structures (such as roads, development, or logging). This allows an exchange of individuals between ...
by a variety of animals.


History

The location of 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 the 1900s, partly owing to climatic change during the
Little Ice Age The Little Ice Age (LIA) was a period of regional cooling, particularly pronounced in the North Atlantic region. It was not a true ice age of global extent. The term was introduced into scientific literature by François E. Matthes in 1939. Ma ...
. The introduction of non-native vegetation may be attributed to the arrival of
Métis The Métis ( ; Canadian ) are Indigenous peoples who inhabit Canada's three Prairie Provinces, as well as parts of British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and the Northern United States. They have a shared history and culture which derives ...
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 Fort Edmonton (also named Edmonton House) was the name of a series of trading posts of the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) from 1795 to 1914, all of which were located on the north banks of the North Saskatchewan River in what is now central Alberta, ...
. During this period, resources from 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 the river valley to the
tableland A table or tableland is a butte, flank of a mountain, or mountain, that has a flat top. This kind of landform has numerous names, including: * Butte * Mesa * * Potrero * Tepui * Terrace * Tuya A tuya is a flat-topped, steep-sided vol ...
s 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 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.


Formation of a park system

In 1907, landscape architect
Frederick Todd Frederick Gage Todd (March 11, 1876 – February 15, 1948) was the first resident landscape architect in Canada. For the majority of his life he was one of a small group committed to the art and practice of structuring urban growth in the first ...
proposed that the city should take advantage of the natural space provided by 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
ravine A ravine is a landform that is narrower than a canyon and is often the product of streambank erosion.Gold Bar A gold bar, also called gold bullion or gold ingot, is a quantity of refined metallic gold of any shape that is made by a bar producer meeting standard conditions of manufacture, labeling, and record keeping. Larger gold bars that are produced ...
, 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 An Order-in-Council is a type of legislation in many countries, especially the Commonwealth realms. In the United Kingdom this legislation is formally made in the name of the monarch by and with the advice and consent of the Privy Council ('' ...
to restrict developments around the river valley from
Devon Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devon is ...
to
Fort Saskatchewan Fort Saskatchewan is a city along the North Saskatchewan River in Alberta, Canada. It is northeast of Edmonton, the provincial capital. It is part of the Edmonton census metropolitan area and one of 24 municipalities that constitute the Edmont ...
. 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 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 eventual ...
in the
Edmonton Metropolitan Region The Edmonton Metropolitan Region (EMR), also commonly referred to as Greater Edmonton or Metro Edmonton, is a conglomeration of municipalities centred on Alberta's provincial capital of Edmonton. The EMR's commonly known boundaries are coincide ...
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 Leduc County is a municipal district in Alberta, Canada that is immediately south of the City of Edmonton. It spans east to west and north to south, and has a population of 14,416. The municipal district is home to prairie parkland and several ...
,
Parkland County Parkland County is a municipal district in central Alberta, Canada. Located west of Edmonton in Census Division No. 11, its municipal office, Parkland County Centre, is located north of the Town of Stony Plain on Highway 779. History ;20 ...
,
Strathcona County Strathcona County is a specialized municipality in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region within Alberta, Canada between Edmonton and Elk Island National Park. It forms part of Census Division No. 11. Strathcona County is both urban and rural in ...
, and
Sturgeon County Sturgeon County is a municipal district the Edmonton Metropolitan Region of Alberta, Canada. It is north of Edmonton and west of the North Saskatchewan River. Sturgeon County is located in Division No. 11 and was named for the Sturgeon River. ...
; with the aim to connect the riverside parks as a larger park system. The RVA itself 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.


Parks

The North Saskatchewan River Valley park system, including its associated ravines, holds over 30 urban parks forming 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 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 the system include: * Allan Stein Park * Argyll Park * Buena Vista Park * Capilano Park * Dawson Park * Diamond Park * Emily Murphy Park * Floden Park * Forest Heights Park * Gallagher Park *
Gold Bar Park Gold Bar is a residential neighbourhood in south east Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The neighbourhood's west boundary is 50 Street. The northern boundary follows a zig zag path running north east from 50 Street until it reaches the Gold Bar Ravine. ...
* Goldstick Park * Government House Park * Henrietta Muir Edwards/Rafters Landing * Hermitage Park * Irene Parlby Park * Kinnaird Park * Kinsmen Park *
Louise McKinney Riverfront Park Louise McKinney Riverfront Park or Louise McKinney Park is a municipal park in Edmonton, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, that is part of the North Saskatchewan River valley parks system, and serves as the gateway park, with paved paths leading from it ...
* MacKinnon Ravine Park *
Mill Creek Ravine 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 ra ...
* Nellie McClung Park * Queen Elizabeth Park * Rio Park * Riverdale Park * Rundle Park * Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park * Terwillegar Park *
Victoria Park Victoria Park may refer to: Places Australia * Victoria Park Nature Reserve, a protected area in Northern Rivers region, New South Wales * Victoria Park, Adelaide, a park and racecourse * Victoria Park, Brisbane, a public park and former golf ...
* West River's Edge * Whitemud Park *
William Hawrelak Park William Hawrelak Park (or simply Hawrelak Park) is a park in Edmonton, Alberta. Formerly known as Mayfair Park, it was initially going to be developed into a 500-lot subdivision; however, when the Strathcona Land Syndicate forfeited their taxes the ...
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 field A baseball field, also called a ball field or baseball diamond, is the field upon which the game of baseball is played. The term can also be used as a metonym for a baseball park. The term sandlot is sometimes used, although this usually refers ...
s,
dog park A dog park is a park for dogs to exercise and play off-leash in a controlled environment under the supervision of their owners. Description Dog parks have varying features, although they typically offer a 4' to 6' fence, separate double-gated ...
s, playgrounds,
slipway A slipway, also known as boat ramp or launch or boat deployer, is a ramp on the shore by which ships or boats can be moved to and from the water. They are used for building and repairing ships and boats, and for launching and retrieving small ...
s, sports fields, and tennis courts. 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. 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 West Edmonton Mall (WEM) is a shopping mall in Edmonton, Alberta, that is owned, managed, and operated by Triple Five Group. It is the second most visited mall in Canada, after the Toronto Eaton Centre in Toronto, followed by Metrotown Mall in B ...
. 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.


Trails

The river valley holds more than of maintained trails that loosely connect the parks together. However, only of the trails are paved. Portions of the network are disconnected, although the RVA plans to fully connect 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 a water trail for watercrafts and serves as the binding feature of the park system. The river's flow rate varies between 160-250 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. The river flows across Alberta and Saskatchewan towards
Lake Winnipeg Lake Winnipeg (french: Lac Winnipeg, oj, ᐑᓂᐸᑲᒥᐠᓴᑯ˙ᑯᐣ, italics=no, Weenipagamiksaguygun) is a very large, relatively shallow lake in North America, in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Manitoba, Canada. I ...
and the
Nelson River The Nelson River is a river of north-central North America, in the Canadian province of Manitoba. The river drains Lake Winnipeg and runs before it ends in Hudson Bay. Its full length (including the Saskatchewan River and Bow River) is , it ...
, and eventually into Hudson's Bay.


Geography

The North Saskatchewan River valley park system extends approximately and encompasses over of land; although the river valley itself holds of dedicated parkland. Most of the park system surrounds the
North Saskatchewan River 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 eventual ...
, 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 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 the river valley is made up of
grasslands A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses (Poaceae). However, sedge (Cyperaceae) and rush (Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes, like clover, and other herbs. Grasslands occur natural ...
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 . Soil flows are not uncommon along the slopes of the unstable river valley. In years with low snow and rainfall, fires are common. Although sections of 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 EPCOR Utilities Inc., formerly known as Edmonton Power Corporation, is a utility company based in Edmonton, Alberta. EPCOR manages water, wastewater, natural gas, and electricity distribution systems in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British ...
' Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant. Additionally there exist several thousand properties and residential homes that are situated within of 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 Carbon sequestration is the process of storing carbon in a carbon pool. Carbon dioxide () is naturally captured from the atmosphere through biological, chemical, and physical processes. These changes can be accelerated through changes in land ...
, erosion control, and
stormwater management Stormwater, also spelled storm water, is water that originates from precipitation (storm), including heavy rain and meltwater from hail and snow. Stormwater can soak into the soil ( infiltrate) and become groundwater, be stored on depressed land ...
. Taken together, it is estimated the river valley provides approximately
CA$ The Canadian dollar (symbol: $; code: CAD; french: dollar canadien) is the currency of Canada. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, there is no standard disambiguating form, but the abbreviation Can$ is often suggested by notable style g ...
350 million to $650 million in services to the region per year.


Fauna and flora

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 Vascular plants (), also called tracheophytes () or collectively Tracheophyta (), form a large group of land plants ( accepted known species) that have lignified tissues (the xylem) for conducting water and minerals throughout the plant. They al ...
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 the river valley. The river valley was historically dominated by
alder Alders are trees comprising the genus ''Alnus'' in the birch family Betulaceae. The genus comprises about 35 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, a few reaching a large size, distributed throughout the north temperate zone with a few sp ...
,
balsam poplar ''Populus balsamifera'', commonly called balsam poplar, bam, bamtree, eastern balsam-poplar, hackmatack, tacamahac poplar, tacamahaca, is a tree species in the balsam poplar species group in the poplar genus, ''Populus.'' The genus name ''Populu ...
s, and
willow Willows, also called sallows and osiers, from the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 400 speciesMabberley, D.J. 1997. The Plant Book, Cambridge University Press #2: Cambridge. of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist s ...
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 a variety of flora such as
aspen Aspen is a common name for certain tree species; some, but not all, are classified by botanists in the section ''Populus'', of the ''Populus'' genus. Species These species are called aspens: *'' Populus adenopoda'' – Chinese aspen (China ...
, balsam poplar,
white birch ''Betula papyrifera'' (paper birch, also known as (American) white birch and canoe birch) is a short-lived species of birch native to northern North America. Paper birch is named for the tree's thin white bark, which often peels in paper like ...
,
white spruce White spruce is a common name for several species of spruce (''Picea'') and may refer to: * ''Picea glauca'', native to most of Canada and Alaska with limited populations in the northeastern United States * ''Picea engelmannii'', native to the Ro ...
, 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 A riparian zone or riparian area is the interface between land and a river or stream. Riparian is also the proper nomenclature for one of the terrestrial biomes of the Earth. Plant habitats and communities along the river margins and banks ar ...
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 A wildlife corridor, habitat corridor, or green corridor is an area of habitat connecting wildlife populations separated by human activities or structures (such as roads, development, or logging). This allows an exchange of individuals between ...
for animals to travel to other conservation areas. Because the river valley serves as a wildlife corridor, several
wildlife crossing Wildlife crossings are structures that allow animals to cross human-made barriers safely. Wildlife crossings may include underpass tunnels or wildlife tunnels, viaducts, and overpasses or green bridges (mainly for large or herd-type animals); ...
s were built in locations where highways cross the river valley. Animals commonly found in the river valley includes
coyotes The coyote (''Canis latrans'') is a species of canis, canine native to North America. It is smaller than its close relative, the wolf, and slightly smaller than the closely related eastern wolf and red wolf. It fills much of the same ecologica ...
,
great horned owls The great horned owl (''Bubo virginianus''), also known as the tiger owl (originally derived from early naturalists' description as the "winged tiger" or "tiger of the air"), or the hoot owl, is a large owl native to the Americas. It is an extrem ...
,
lake sturgeon The lake sturgeon (''Acipenser fulvescens''), also known as the rock sturgeon, is a North American temperate freshwater fish, one of about 25 species of sturgeon. Like other sturgeons, this species is a bottom feeder with evolutionarily basal t ...
s,
North American porcupine The North American porcupine (''Erethizon dorsatum''), also known as the Canadian porcupine, is a large quill-covered rodent in the New World porcupine family. It is the second largest rodent in North America, after the North American beaver ('' ...
s, pileated woodpeckers,
plains garter snake The plains garter snake (''Thamnophis radix'') is a species of garter snake native to most of the central United States as far north as Canada and as far south as Texas. It has a distinctive orange or yellow stripe from its head to tail, and the ...
s,
walleye The walleye (''Sander vitreus'', synonym ''Stizostedion vitreum''), also called the yellow pike or yellow pickerel, is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the Northern United States. It is a North American close relat ...
, and
white-tailed deer The white-tailed deer (''Odocoileus virginianus''), also known as the whitetail or Virginia deer, is a medium-sized deer native to North America, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru and Bolivia. It has also been introduced t ...
.
Cougar The cougar (''Puma concolor'') is a large Felidae, cat native to the Americas. Its Species distribution, range spans from the Canadian Yukon to the southern Andes in South America and is the most widespread of any large wild terrestrial mamm ...
s that have made their way into Edmonton usually arrive via the river valley system.


See also

*
Urban parks in Canada Urban parks in Canada are areas for public recreation and enjoyment or natural preservation in cities in Canada. They are often owned and operated by municipal governments and so are usually called 'municipal parks', and sometimes 'regional parks ...


References


Further reading

* * * *


External links


River Valley Alliance

River Valley Parks
- City of Edmonton
River Valley
- City of Fort Saskatchewan {{Edmonton landmarks Parks in Edmonton Valleys of Alberta
Edmonton 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 ancho ...
North Saskatchewan River Canyons and gorges of Canada River valleys of Canada Tourist attractions in Edmonton Trans Canada Trail