The Medicine Hill / Paskapoo Slopes Regional Park project will provide an opportunity to protect land with cultural, archaeological, and ecological significance, while creating a regional park that shapes a landscape of connection and education for all who visit. Few places in Calgary show this degree of significance and our team recognizes that Medicine Hill is truly unique.

We have learned that Medicine Hill / Paskapoo Slopes (Aiss ka pooma, Pagaspu, Piskapo) is an important site for the local Indigenous Nations and this project involves engaging with the Treaty 7 First Nations and Métis to better understand the cultural significance.

The Medicine Hill / Paskapoo Slopes Regional Park project will be developed using a phased approach which is expected to extend over several years. The first phase of the project will include the development of a master plan for the future regional park. We anticipate the master plan to be completed in 2026.

The purpose of developing the Medicine Hill / Paskapoo Slopes Regional Park Master Plan is to create a blueprint for how the future park will be realized over the next decade and beyond. The master plan may include more formalized trails, educational opportunities, improved signage and wayfinding, as well as feedback and considerations gathered from Indigenous and public engagement.

The site has parking access from Paskapoo parking lot.

The site is also accessible via bus:

Bus 108 - Paskapoo Slopes Red Line LRT Access - 19 minute bus ride from Brentwood station

Bus 111 - Old Banff Coach Road Blue Line LRT Access - 18 minute bus ride from Westbrook station

Bus 26 - Sarcee Trail Crosstown

Bus 51 - West Springs / Discovery Ridge

Bus 93 - Coach Hill / Westbrook Station

Bus 98 - Cougar Ridge

Currently, the area is largely informal and unmanaged, which is putting increasing pressure on its sensitive archaeological and ecological features. As public use continues to grow, these valuable resources face ongoing degradation.

The master plan is needed to guide the thoughtful protection of these areas while creating a unique regional park that fosters connection, learning, and enjoyment for all visitors. It will provide a long-term vision for the park, with improvements that can be phased in over time.

The community name "Medicine Hill" emerged during the planning process for the Medicine Hill/Trinity Hills development between 2013 and 2016. It was formally adopted by Calgary City Council on March 7, 2016. Medicine Hill is an English translation of the Blackfoot term Aiss ka pooma, which means “a place of health and well-being.”

The City is actively engaging with private landowners to better understand their long-term plans and explore opportunities for collaboration that align with the vision and goals of the regional park.

This information is not known at this time. Upon completion of the master plan and detail design phase we will have a better understanding of our construction timeline and phasing.  

A detailed site analysis is underway to evaluate the impact of existing trails on sensitive ecological and archaeological areas, as well as to identify sections with significant erosion. Public engagement will help The City understand how the trails are used and what types of recreational experiences the community values.

As part of the master plan, some trails may be formalized, redesigned for improved accessibility, or enhanced with features like boardwalks to protect vulnerable areas. In locations with severe erosion or environmental risk, certain trail segments may be re-routed, decommissioned, and restored to support long-term sustainability.

Regional parks are typically large or significant parks, featuring unique amenities or experiences, which serve multiple neighbourhoods or are a citywide attraction. They are designed to support longer visits by patrons, as they commonly feature specialized services or activities and provide supporting infrastructure, including parking and washrooms. Regional parks are established to serve residents according to the need for equitable access to regional-scale amenities, or to protect, complement and provide access to significant environmental features.