River Park / Sandy Beach / Britannia Slopes Combined Park Management + Design Development Plan

Client The City of Calgary, Parks
Location Calgary | Alberta | Canada
 

River Park, Sandy Beach, Britannia Slopes, Riveredge Park and the Lower Reservoir area collectively form a regional park along Calgary’s Elbow River.

O2 was commissioned to develop an over-arching vision for the regional green space, develop long-term park management strategies, and to create a holistic identity for the area. The focus of the project was to balance ecological integrity of the park and riparian areas with the park’s uses, while addressing the diverse needs of park users, and developing management solutions which will remain relevant in the long-term.

Due to increasing conflicts among the park’s users, the project’s methodology directly integrated an intensive public engagement process, including user survey, information sessions, open space workshops, a world café, and online consultations. This required conducting surveys, organizing public engagement events, liaising with community associations and stakeholders, and ensuring close communication and collaboration with City staff.

The resulting management plan and conceptual design incorporated a wide-ranging number of solutions: environmental restoration and protection, stormwater treatment, safe public river access, trail and pathway redesign, parking and traffic calming measures, and the off-leash dog areas.