Fish Creek Provincial Park
Encyclopedia
Fish Creek Park is a provincial park located in the southern part of Calgary
, Alberta
, Canada
. It is one of the largest urban parks in North America, stretching 19 km (11.8 mi) from east to west. At 13.48 km² (5.2 sq mi), it is over three times the size of Vancouver's
Stanley Park
.
The growth of Calgary has left the park bordered on all sides by the city. It is also bordered on the west by the territory of the Tsuu T’ina Nation
(Sarcee), a First Nation.
The Bow River
as well as the Fish Creek pass through the park, which used to span the width of the city but because of growth the city has surpassed the edges of the park.
, coyote
s, owl
s, and beaver
s.
The park features a number of different picnicking and forest areas. The most widely used section of the park is the beach at Sikome Lake
where thousands of Calgarians visit each summer weekend. The lake is man-made and is drained during the winter months. A popular year-round attraction at the park is Bow Valley Ranch, which is used quite often for corporate and private functions. There is no admission fee to enter the different areas of the park.
As a result of the heavy rains and floods experienced by Alberta in June 2005, half of the park's trails were washed away, and the other half damaged. Seven pedestrian bridges over the Fish Creek were destroyed and seven others were rendered unsafe. The park officially reopened in September 2007 following the construction of new bridges and a redesigned pathway system.
The park's location and city growth in the south is also a constant irritant to city planners. Limited points exist to build roadway across the park. Three arteries (Deerfoot Trail
/Highway 22X, Macleod Trail
and 37th Street SW), plus a C-Train
rapid transit
line, exist to connect the southern portions of the city with the north. This results in frequent rush hour traffic delays as the traffic bottle necks.
The park's trails and facilities see 3 million visitors a year and are patrolled by Conservation Officers designated under the Ministry of Tourism Parks and Recreation.
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is one of the largest urban parks in North America, stretching 19 km (11.8 mi) from east to west. At 13.48 km² (5.2 sq mi), it is over three times the size of Vancouver's
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
Stanley Park
Stanley Park
Stanley Park is a 404.9 hectare urban park bordering downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was opened in 1888 by David Oppenheimer in the name of Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor-General of Canada....
.
The growth of Calgary has left the park bordered on all sides by the city. It is also bordered on the west by the territory of the Tsuu T’ina Nation
Tsuu T'ina Nation
The Tsuu T'ina Nation is a First Nation in Canada. Their territory is located on the Indian reserve Tsuu T'ina Nation 145, whose east side is adjacent to the southwest city limits of Calgary, Alberta...
(Sarcee), a First Nation.
The Bow River
Bow River
The Bow River is a river in the Canadian province of Alberta. It is a tributary of the South Saskatchewan River, and is considered the headwater of the Nelson River....
as well as the Fish Creek pass through the park, which used to span the width of the city but because of growth the city has surpassed the edges of the park.
Amenities
A variety of paved and unpaved pedestrian and bicycle trails that connect the park to the city's extensive trail system allow visitors to access on-site day-camping facilities, stables, and a swimmable artificial lake. The park features 80 kilometres (49.7 mi) of trails, of which 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) are paved, and is home to a large variety of natural wildlife, including deerDeer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
, coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
s, owl
Owl
Owls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions . Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish...
s, and beaver
Beaver
The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...
s.
The park features a number of different picnicking and forest areas. The most widely used section of the park is the beach at Sikome Lake
Sikome Lake
The Sikome Aquatic Facility, commonly referred to as Sikome Lake, is a man made lake in the city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south-east quadrant of the city, within the Fish Creek Provincial Park, and is part of the Bow River basin...
where thousands of Calgarians visit each summer weekend. The lake is man-made and is drained during the winter months. A popular year-round attraction at the park is Bow Valley Ranch, which is used quite often for corporate and private functions. There is no admission fee to enter the different areas of the park.
Contemporary issues
The park's location and city growth in the south is also a constant irritant to city planners. Limited points exist to build roadway across the park. Three arteries (Deerfoot Trail
Deerfoot Trail
Deerfoot Trail is a freeway section of the Queen Elizabeth II Highway in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It was formerly known as Blackfoot Trail Freeway, but was renamed to honour the first Native American to win the marathon....
/Highway 22X, Macleod Trail
Macleod Trail (Calgary)
Macleod Trail is a major road in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is a six to eight lane principal arterial road extending from downtown Calgary to the south of the city, where it merges into Highway 2. South of Anderson Road, Macleod Trail is an expressway and is slated to be upgraded to a freeway in...
and 37th Street SW), plus a C-Train
C-Train
C-Train is the light rail transit system in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It has been in operation since May 25, 1981. The system is operated by Calgary Transit, a department of the Calgary municipal government.-Operations:...
rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
line, exist to connect the southern portions of the city with the north. This results in frequent rush hour traffic delays as the traffic bottle necks.
The park's trails and facilities see 3 million visitors a year and are patrolled by Conservation Officers designated under the Ministry of Tourism Parks and Recreation.
See also
- List of Alberta provincial parks
- List of Canadian provincial parks
- List of National Parks of Canada