The City is looking to foster opportunities for well used public spaces and places for citizens to connect and create urban vitality. Parks will be developing a parcel of land at 936 16 Ave. S.W. into a vibrant public park space that can be well enjoyed and used by community members.

A feasibility study has been completed and during Phase 1 of engagement we identified the design elements that we were looking for your input on. Your responses were used to help identify patterns of preference for various features in the park’s design. As a part of Phase 2 engagement, we then developed two park concept plans which we sought public feedback on. The feedback was then considered to help develop a preferred concept plan, which is currently being taken through the detailed design and permitting process at The City.

As we take the preferred design through the permitting process, there may be minor changes to ensure that the design aligns with City planning policies. The final design will take into consideration the feedback that we have obtained to date from public engagement and balance that with City planning policies, bylaws, and priorities. Below you will find the preferred concept which is the most up to date vision for the future park space.

Why are we developing park space in the Beltline?

• The Beltline is considerably deficient in open park space. With a population of just over 23,000, and the majority living in multi-family residences, we need to take advantage of the open spaces we have in order to maximize its value.
  

What is the size of the space?

• The park space is 908 square metres (approx. 9,775 square feet).
  

Who owns the land that the park space is being built on?

• The land is owned by The City and is stewarded by Parks.
  

What determines what we can do with the site?

• This piece of land is designated as Special Purpose – Community Service District (S-CS) and everything that has be proposed on site is a “permitted use” for this type of land use designation.
  

Exactly how long will construction take?

• Although we will not know this until we have a finalized plan in place and a contractor is procured, it is anticipated that the construction of the park space will take about five months and be complete before the end of 2020.
  

How much is this going to cost/where is the funding coming from?

• The construction budget for this project is 1 million dollars.
• Funding for this project comes from a mix of City funding as well as developer contributions.
  

How has our input be used?

• Your input has been used to identify preferences and patterns to help the project team create a park space that meets the communities' needs.
• Data and input has been collected based on the feedback from Phase 1 and Phase 2 public engagement; this feedback has helped us shape the final design concept.

Will there be a playground incorporated into the new park space?

• Due to size restrictions on site and proximity to several other playgrounds in the community, there will not be a playground incorporated into this space.
• Based on the feedback from the first engagement session The City understands the importance of play and has incorporated playful elements into the final design concept for the new park space.
• Thomson Family Park is located two blocks west of this park space, and is home to a large playground.
  

Will there be an off-leash area or dog park incorporated into the new park space?

• Due to size limitations on site and proximity to the designated off-leash area at Connaught Park - 1135 14 Ave S.W., which is about three blocks away, an off-leash area or fenced in dog park will not be incorporated into this park space.
  

Will there be a water feature in the new park space?

• Due to limitations on available funding for maintenance and excessive operation costs that are associated with life-cycling and regular upkeep as well as The City’s commitment to water conservation, no water feature will be implemented in this park space.

What approvals and permitting requirements are associated with this project?

• The City will be required to take this project through the Development Liaison (DL) process. DL’s act as an urban design control for projects taking place on City of Calgary owned land. This project will also be taken through The City’s Urban Design Review Panel (UDRP) and Calgary Planning Commission (CPC) to help guide and ensure the development adheres to City Policy.

Please view the two concept images below, which will be used to answer questions 3, 4, 5, & 6 below.

Thank you to everyone who shared their ideas and provided feedback.

A What We Heard, What We Did Report can be viewed here.