Buena Vista / Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park Master Plan
Buena Vista / Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park, covers more than 110 hectares, and forms two dynamic river valley park areas offering numerous recreational opportunities for year round use.
This expansive parkland includes an off leash area, the Yorath property, the Edmonton Rowing Club / Edmonton Whitewater Paddlers boat houses & launches, natural areas, trails, the Edmonton Valley Zoo and picnic grounds. There are also ball diamonds, playgrounds, a boat launch and other amenities.
Project Timeline
For more information about project phases, and a complete project list, see Current Projects
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City Council Review |
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Detailed Design and Environmental Review |
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Final Master Plan & Report |
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Public Open House - The draft master plan was presented to the public outlining the proposed design for Buena Vista/Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park that will be taken to City Council. |
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Concept Review Summary Report - This report contains the combined results from the Public Workshop and the Online Survey. |
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Concept Review Online Survey - An online survey was conducted to gain feedback from the public regarding the three draft concept plans and design elements for the park. Based on the input received a draft master plan will be developed. |
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Public Workshop - new Vision and Program Statement document and three draft concept plans were presented providing a range of development options that fit within the park’s vision.
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Online Vision Survey - to allow the public to let the project team know if the draft vision statement reflects their future vision for the park. Based on input, changes may be made. |
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Stakeholder Workshop - to allow key stakeholders the opportunity to modify and/or confirm the Vision Statement, and discuss uses for the park, park improvements, and uses for Yorath House.
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Public Visioning Session - to obtain input on the vision for the park.
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Stakeholder interviews. |
Project Overview
With a growing population, increasing demand on the park and a revitalization plan underway for the Edmonton Valley Zoo, the City has identified the need for a master plan for Buena Vista/Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park.
The Buena Vista/Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park Master Plan will serve the park for the next 10 years and anticipates how user needs may evolve over time. The end result is a plan which strives to increase people’s opportunities to experience and enjoy the park while preserving and enhancing the ecological systems in place. The resulting plan will expand opportunities to view and touch the water, introduce additional amenities, enhance existing facilities such as Yorath House, increase barrier free design through the park, identify preservation areas and implement measures to protect and stabilize shoreline areas along the North Saskatchewan.
Key Design Elements
Buena Vista Park
Protecting the natural setting of the park
- Limiting disturbance into the preservation area of McKenzie Ravine located north of Buena Vista Park.
- Identifying improvements to help stabilize the river bank.
- Planting native plant species
- Identifying sensitive plant and animal species within the park which require protection.
Enhancing the off-leash experience
- Increasing the size of the off-leash area from 48.47 hectares to 53.80 hectares. The expansion includes areas presently used by off-leash users such as the existing beach-area at the foot of the Hawrelak footbridge, formally making it part of the off-leash boundary area.
- Adding fine gravel to the existing looping pathway within the off-leash area to create a harder surface for users and to help expand park access opportunities for people with reduced mobility. The upgraded pathway will also reduce the effects of weather (flooding and pooling water) on the pathway surface, allowing people to stay on the pathway reducing damage to the surrounding areas.
- Providing a fenced off-leash (dog training area), adjacent to the west parking lot, to provide an enclosed barrier-free area, approximately 0.38 Ha in size, for mobility impaired off-leash dog walkers and specialized dog training.
- Enhancing river access to the existing beach within the off-leash area through the addition of stairs and re-graded trails making it easier and safer for dogs and their owners to access the beach area while at the same time protecting sensitive river bank areas.
- Adding an off-leash meeting point to create a location for dog walkers to meet.
Improving facilities
- Providing washroom facilities (four-season) serving both the off-leash areas and included as part of a redeveloped Yorath House. The plan also proposed enhancing the existing basic washroom facility located near the off-leash area parking lot.
- Redeveloping Yorath House to allow for the building to be used as a multi-use facility for public programming, civic events and rental opportunities. Site improvements will enhance this historic amenity as a public facility within Buena Vista Park.
Enhancing accessibility
- Paving the shared use pathway through the park consistent with City standards for Shared Use Pathways. This supports four-season active transportation to sustain other modes of transportation highlighted in The Way We Move including walking and cycling and to improve park access for people with reduced mobility. Based on feedback, this shared use path will be considered as part of the off-leash area for Buena Vista Park.
- Increasing the supply of parking from 74 to 171 within the park to help alleviate people parking in undesignated areas and to increase the safety for both pedestrians and their pets.
Improving signage
- Developing a comprehensive signage plan within Buena Vista Park to reduce confusion over the extent of the off leash area and pathways that allow or do not allow cycling. The signage plan will help to better inform park users, help facilitate cooperation between user groups and allow for clarity in bylaw enforcement if required.
Laurier Park
Improving park access
- Constructing a roundabout at the bottom of Buena Vista Road to help improve the entrance to the park. The design of the roundabout will help improve traffic flow in Buena Vista Park, Laurier Park, and the Edmonton Valley Zoo during busy times, improve direction wayfinding for park users entering the parks and enhance the aesthetics by providing a more formalized entry into the area.
Enhancing the user experience
- Providing accessible picnic sites through upgrading existing picnic areas to ensure barrier free design of picnic sites.
- Upgrading a number of existing amenities within the park including the boat launch, washrooms, and playground.
Improving access to the rivers’ edge
- Providing view points of the North Saskatchewan River to enhance visibility of the river providing park users greater ability to experience a connection to the river.
- Providing a boat launch viewpoint area complete with benches, an accessible ramp down to the shoreline and a connecting dock to enable park users to access to the rivers’ edge enhancing the opportunities for park users to touch the water. The viewpoint area will also provide a welcoming feature for park users’ accessing the park from the river.
Photo Gallery
Buena Vista / Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park Master Plan Photo Gallery
For more information:
Buena Vista / Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park Master Plan Team
| BuenaVistaLaurierPlan@edmonton.ca |
Corey Toews
| Title | Planner |
|---|---|
| Telephone | 780-496-8381 |
| Corey.Toews@Edmonton.ca |
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