West End Trails Background Information

Community Engagement

In fall 2013, the City began conversations about the Terwillegar Park Footbridge and West End Trails with park users, user groups, area community league representatives, and members of the public.

A Community Advisory Committee has been established that includes representatives from area community leagues and park user groups.

A series of open houses were also held to allow citizens an opportunity to provide their feedback. View summary reports from the September 21, 2013, and May 31, 2014 open houses.

May 31, 2014 Open House

Presentation panels from the May 31, 2014, Terwillegar Park Footbridge/West End Trails open house:

Terwillegar Park Footbridge and West End Trails Public Engagement Progress Report

September 21, 2013 Open House

Presentation panels from the September 21, 2013, Terwillegar Park Footbridge/West End Trails open house:

Terwillegar Park Footbridge/West End Trails Overview
Terwillegar Park Footbridge Concept and Feedback Panels
Terwillegar Park Footbridge/West End Trails Feedback

Environment

The City of Edmonton has conducted environmental reviews on the West End Trails to reduce the environmental impact of this project.

Environmental Impact Mitigation Strategies

• Specialists including wildlife biologists, vegetation ecologists, rare plant specialists, erosion and sediment control specialists, and fisheries biologists evaluated the designs of the footbridge and trail options identifying opportunities to mitigate or eliminate environmental impacts during the design process.
• Trail routes have been chosen to avoid environmentally sensitive areas.
• Mitigation strategies are in place to avoid known environmentally sensitive areas and rare plants during construction.
• This project will adhere to the City of Edmonton Corporate Tree Policy, which ensures that all trees are adequately protected from destruction, loss or damage. Where trees must be cleared, compensation will be provided to the City of Edmonton to be used in the remediation of disturbed areas.
• Existing soil within the project footprint will be stripped and collected for use in the restoration of disturbed areas. As well, disturbed areas will be restored using native plant species.

The full reports on the results of the environmental reviews for the construction of the West End Trails are available as part of the April 15, 2014 Council meeting minutes. (item 6.17)