Natural Spaces & Wildlife
Retain as much natural area in the park as possible and protect natural trails, landscapes, and habitat for wildlife.
Airdrie's newest regional park
We are excited to start developing a new regional park where all of Airdrie can gather and enjoy outdoor activities. Outdoor spaces are important catalysts for recreation and culture and we want to ensure that residents are informed and involved throughout the process.
The Master Plan is a blueprint for the vision, goals and actionable steps for developing the park. It covers things like land use, trails, amenities, environmental considerations and even budget constraints.
The park will be developed over the next 10-15 years as services to the area (e.g. water and wastewater service) and funding become available.
Location
Master Plan
The vision for the NE Regional Park was informed by feedback received through engagement and envisions a place where education and guidance can occur, gathering, ceremony and relationships are nurtured, and there is a focus on the history of the land.
At the heart of the NE Regional Park Master Plan is a largely untouched natural area. More active and heavier recreation use areas are organized to the east area of the park, and in the west is a space for civic events and festivals. These focus areas are connected by a trail system based on the existing trails that occur there now.
Park features in the Master Plan design
Explore features of the Master Plan design in more detail here.
Space dedicated to civic events including outdoor art and festivals makes up about 10% of the total park programming.
The spaces allows for the potential for a bandshell or outdoor stage structure, natural seating, permanent washrooms and additional portable toilets for large events, a large entry plaza for large groups and service vehicles, an information kiosk and picnic tables and/or shade structures.
Passive and social spaces make up about 4% of the total park area. These spaces include:
Social Gathering, East Hub: as a focal point for gathering during tournaments or other activities. Picnic areas scattered throughout the park to create inviting spaces for families and groups. West Entry Plaza, providing picnic tables, shelters, BBQ grills and fire pits.
Peaceful and Quiet Spaces: Trailside benches for comfort and access, and a proposed storm pond and boardwalk for a tranquil setting and quieter activities.
Approximately 25% of the total park space is allocated to active sports and recreational activities, located in the east area of the park.
The focus here has been on flexibility and allowing field and court layouts that can easily be reconfigured to accommodate different sports such as soccer, Canadian football, lacrosse, rugby, ultimate frisbee, cricket, basketball, volleyball, tennis and pickleball.
The Master Plan identifies a seasonal trail network providing year-round opportunities for recreation, education and cultural, ecological and historical preservation.
Using the existing trail system as much as possible reduces the need for extensive tree clearing and habitat destruction.
All trails are proposed to be either asphalt or compacted gravel to improve access for those using mobility assistive devices (e.g. wheelchairs, walkers, etc.)
There are three areas that are dedicated to accessible, inclusive and nature-based play:
East Hub/Entry Plaza: At the heart of the active recreation area, this provides a space for children to play during other sports/recreation activities in the adjacent fields
West End: Activating a space here when it's not being used for concerts or other events.
Northeast: A more secluded space that can be incorporated into the adjacent woodland and trees.
The size of the park allows space for a medium-sized, 18-hole course that is located to the east of the pond in an area with existing trees and naturally occurring meadows. This allows for hole alignments that minimize disturbance to the nearby paths and central natural area of the park, while still being close to the parking and more active recreation area in the east of the park.
Three potential locations for future community gardening are identified in the Master Plan. These include a foraging and medicinal plant garden at the Indigenous Gathering Circle. There is space allocated for one at the north east corner and another adjacent to the playground in the west end of the park.
The Master Plan recommends accommodating dogs on-leash in the natural, event and active recreation areas of the park. And allows for a fenced off-leash area to be considered in the transition between the east active recreation and treed areas in the southeast of the park, once that phase of the park development is being considered.
Memorial Walk
The north east corner of the park contains an existing mature woodland and is an ideal location for a memorial walk and area for remembering loved ones. An entrance from the north is recommended and a looped path will allow people to experience a place of solitude, remembrance and reflection.
Airdrie BMX Club
Considerations for future detailed design and requirements included accommodation for the needs of riders and spectators for both regular and tournament use.
Pump Track & Skateboard Park
Locating a new pump track and skateboard facility next to the proposed BMX club offers a strategic and complementary use of space that benefits both riders and the community.
Entry signage creates a memorable and welcoming first impression for park visitors and is envisioned in the Master Plan to be located on both the West and East entries to the park.
Suggested locations for wayfinding and educational/interpretive signs are incorporated into various areas of the park. Final locations will ultimately depend on which locations are leveraged to showcase and educate park visitors about the cultural, historical and environemntal heritage of the park.
Entry Signage
Wayfinding, Interpretive & Education Signage
The Master Plan allows for a City Parks depot in the southeast of the park, supporting efficient park management as well as convenient access to the park's trail system.
Utilities/Services
The Master Plan recommends phased implementation of infrastructure services to align with the park build out over the next 10-15 years.
This would include: upgrades to electrical servicing to the park and within the park, both interim and final water and sanitary services, bioretention areas and a central storm water pond to manage drainage.
Transportation
The estimated total daily traffic volume generated by the NE Regional Park, at full build out, is anticipated to be ~1200 vehicles per day. And is expected to be split approximately 40% to the west entry and 60% to the east entry.
The nearby road network is expected to get busier as the City of Airdrie grows over the next 10-15 years while the park is developing. This will see Range Road 292 and 291 become 4-lane roads. A third access in the north of the park is planned for when Township Road 273 is constructed.
Green Infrastructure
Maximizing space for parking stalls while maintaining balance with sustainable landscape practices is important. Incorporating bioretention areas to manage, filter and absorb storm water run off is envisioned for the parking areas. As is design that optimizes flow and circulation to minimize the footprint of paved surfaces.
Phase 1
Phase 1 is planned to be constructed by the end of 2024. This phase will see the park open to the public by the end of the year and will include a trail loop (with trail head parking) so visitors to the park can get to know this great area and experience some of the natural areas in it.
Phasing Plan
This long-term, phased approach to develop the park sets out seven phases over the next 10 to 15 years. The phases generally move from the center and west of the park eastwards. But allow flexible stages of completion as emerging culture and recreational needs, funding and site servicing evolve.
What we heard
From October to December 2023, the project team received valuable feedback for the proposed NE Regional Park from diverse interested parties including, Indigenous communities, sports and culture groups and organizations, adjacent residents and other local residents.
We heard from approximately 470 people who took the time to share their input to inform the park design and overall master plan. Feedback was gathered through a variety of different methods, including surveys (printed and online), in-person meetings as well as an open house for all interested parties
Key Findings
Key findings from the 2023 engagement process are identified below.
To learn more, please read the What We Heard report.
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Recreational Diversity
Recreational spaces and fields should accommodate multiple sports and the park should support both passive and active types of recreation.
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Cultural Heritage
Preserve and celebrate Indigenous history (e.g. interpretive information about medicinal plants found on site), pioneer narratives and more recent artifacts (e.g. bomber crash site).
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Traffic & Parking
Ensure there is adequate parking when considering large events that may be held in the park, as well as adequate traffic management on surrounding access roads to the park.
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Connectivity & Accessibility
Connect surrounding neighbourhoods to the park with pathways, bike lanes and transit connections. There is also a need for inclusive amenities to accomodate families and individuals with disabilities.
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Facilities & Amenities
It is important to have on-site washrooms, warming shacks, concessions and space for food trucks.
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Funding & Collaboration
Some groups expressed interest in supporting grant application, sponsorship and/or fundraising initiatives to help fund the development of the on site facilities.
Map Comments
Indigenous Engagement
In October 2023, City Staff, Indigenous Partners, the project team and the current tenants of the land met to tour the park site and discuss the Master Plan development. This meeting reaffirmed the importance of the design to be rooted in the origins of the land. By actively involving Indigenous community members in the design process, the Master Plan provides an opportunity to preserve and revitalize Indigenous knowledge and traditions, ensuring they are valued and celebrated within the park design.
Some of the key themes we heard include:
Thematic Concept
In 2022, Council directed that the design and layout for the regional park be focused on Organized Sports, Civic, Festival, Arts & Culture. This theme comprises the following options that could be included in the Master Plan.
- Education/Interpretive elements and natural trails
- Existing beneficial feature of the site
- Lacking within the community
- Could be promptly developed and used by anyone
- Ball diamonds and rectangular fields
- Could generate revenue and economic opportunities
- Could enable reconfiguration of sport amenities in city (e.g., have specific diamonds, baseball/softball, located at either Northeast or Chinook Winds Regional Parks)
- Campground, concessions/food truck area, open spaces
- Lacking within the community
- Complements other amenity options
- Mainly used by out-of-town visitors/visiting friends/relatives
- Event shelters, open spaces, outdoor art, outdoor stage
- City is outgrowing existing spaces
- Could generate revenue and economic opportunities
Destination/large scale amenities:
- BMX Park, Disc golf course, Outdoor pool
- Limited land for individual amenities
Neighbourhood oriented/small scale amenities:
- Community gardens, court pads, dog park, outdoor ice rink, skate park, splash park, tennis/pickleball courts
- Currently no water/sewer pipes service the area, would need to wait for these services
- Would mostly serve residential development in proximity to park
- Developed pathways, picnic areas or shelters, playground structures
- Complementary to other amenity options
- Limited investment and site requirements
- Required to service the park for equipment and storage
- Scale would be determined in Master Plan
Recreation Needs Assessment Study
In 2021, the City conducted an Indoor and Outdoor Recreation Needs Assessment Study to better understand what amenities might be underserved in the City and what community priorities for outdoor activities should be considered as part of the initial planning for the new regional park.
Key findings for community priorities included:
Indoor and Outdoor Recreation Needs Assessment
The results from this study identified community recreation priorities and are being used to shape our future recreation spaces.
How the input was used
The proactive and inclusive engagement process has driven the project vision and Master Plan conceptual design process.
At the heart of the park is a large natural area supporting contemplative, healing, and restorative amenities and small, more intimate gathering places. This was identified though all of the engagement activities as critically important to participants.
To the west, a cultural/civic event area is envisioned as a space for festivals, performances, public art and celebrations.
We heard through engagement that spaces that can support a diversity of sports and meet emerging trends are important. The east end of the park is focused on adaptive and flexible active recreation - with multi-sport fields and courts, and room for washrooms, food trucks, concessions and more space to accommodate multi-field play, tournaments and other large events.
These three key areas of the park are connected by seasonal trails that support year-round activities.
