Hawrelak Park to reopen to Edmontonians next month after undergoing 3 years of rehab work
CBC
For three years, Edmontonians were unable to visit one of the most popular parks in Alberta's capital as it underwent significant rehabilitation work. But on Thursday, the city revealed William Hawrelak Park will be open to the public again next month.
In a news release, the City of Edmonton announced March 13 would be the park's reopening date.
The work to make upgrades to the park began in 2023, and improvements were made to utilities, facilities and developments on open spaces.
The city said the project is within its $134.5-million budget.
The city said the upgrades will make the park more accessible and will enhance connections to the river valley.
In an interview with CBC News, Matthew Everett, the general supervisor for the City of Edmonton, said most of the upgrades were made to underground systems, including storm, sanitary, water distribution and power systems.
He said no major improvements had been made to the park since it opened in 1967.
"There are some new features that you will notice, and that's some of our accessible, connected pathways that's going to connect all the amenities," Everett said.
Ward papastew Coun. Michael Janz said Hawrelak Park is one of the most important green spaces in Edmonton.
He acknowledged that the reopening has been a long time coming.
"The risk was, if you opened too soon, when the trees haven't taken root, when the grass hasn't taken root and you have people going in there, it risks erosion, it risks destroying some of that infrastructure that you put in," Janz said.
"I hope every Edmontonian feels just as proud of this space as I do."
Juanita Spence, the city's supervisor of river valley parks and facilities, said the park will only be open for what she called "casual use" in March, as the city plans to address deficiencies found after it opens to the public.
"[Visitors will] be able to do many of the things that they are used to doing there," she said. "So they can picnic, they can walk, they can bike. [There are] lots of places to explore, linger and enjoy the park.
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