St. Patrick’s Island named a great Canadian space
One of Calgary’s oldest yet newest parks is being nationally recognized.
St. Patrick’s Island has been named a Great Public Space in Canada by the Canadian Institute of Planners.
“I love all the natural elements to it. That’s a big thing,” said SaraJane Saranchuk, a Calgary mother enjoying the playground Tuesday with Samson, 5, Sadie, 3, and newborn Mickey. “It’s very different to all the other playgrounds you see. It’s nice to be in downtown but out of it at the same time.”
Her friend and Mount Pleasant neighbour, Sarah Andre, visits the park frequently with her children, Luc, 4, and Stella, 2. “We ride our bikes here a lot. We usually stop at Alley Burger or get a coffee at Phil & Sebastian’s and walk over. It’s so wide open.”
The park in the middle of the Bow River in East Village was first established as a public space more than 120 years ago but was left abandoned for decades.
A massive two-year refurbishment completed in 2015 created a modern urban park that connects people to nature.
“Recently revitalized, it is a giant backyard playground for residents of all ages from East Village and surrounding communities,” the contest jury stated.
The annual contest, which started in 2010, names one Great Street, Great Neighbourhood and Great Public Space each year. Professional planners weigh nominations from across Canada for social, economic and accessibility factors as well as design, cultural history and landscape.
The Calgary entry was submitted by Calgary Municipal Land Corp., which oversaw the park’s redevelopment.
The jury found St. Patrick’s Island made great use of one of the city’s oldest parks by incorporating nature into a space for events and festivals. The 12.5-hectare natural oasis boasts a large multiuse plaza with an amphitheatre, a natural wetland, a fishing cove, a picnic area with barbecue grills and a long sun deck.
Andre said one of the best parts of the park is The Rise. “They love running up that giant hill. The fire pit at the top is awesome. In the winter you can have a fire and roast marshmallows.”
The nine-metre-high hill was created from waste material when a former river channel backfilled in the 1960s was dug out again. The new channel includes a beach and shallow swim area that can double as a skating rink in the winter.
Over the past century, St. Patrick’s Island has been used as a car park and campground operated by the Calgary Automobile Club, a city-operated municipal campground and, in 2011, a camp for protesters from the Occupy Calgary movement. While the site was once a beloved venue for families and Boy Scout groups to tent, over time it faded in popularity.
When East Village began to change from a neglected neighbourhood to a hip district, Calgary Municipal Land Corp. included the island in its plans. The transformation of St. Patrick’s Island, including a $25-million pedestrian bridge, cost $45 million. It was paid for by a community revitalization levy funded through property taxes on new development in East Village.