Galt Gardens
Encyclopedia
Galt Gardens is a 9.16 acres (37,069.2 m²) urban park
located in downtown
Lethbridge
, Alberta
. It is the location of many of the city's festivals
and is also the home of the Southern Alberta Art Gallery
.
family, local entrepreneurs. When the original town plan was surveyed in 1885, Elliot Galt ensured the area was reserved as parkland. As the central business district of Lethbridge sprung up around the land, which had become to be known as The Square, the citizens began using it as their own, and it served as the location for most town fairs and sports events.
In 1909, Elliot and John Galt donated the land to the city to be held in perpetuity as parkland. The park was named Galt Gardens in their honour and it was the cultural focal point of the city for many years.
Although trees had been planted around the edge of the park as early as 1901, significant plans were created to further develop the park. The Lethbridge fire department took responsibility for much of the landscaping, and by the 1920s the garden resembled what it is today.
Post-World War II through the ’60s, the park lost some of its lustre as the downtown core became a hangout for “idlers.” Citizens brought the problems of panhandling and other behavioural troubles to the attention of city council, which recognized the call for action and tightened some bylaws governing park use.
Following World War II
and until the 1970s, the park saw a substantial increase in panhandlers. The panhandling and related activities drove people away from the park, and eventually citizens brought the issues to the attention of Lethbridge City Council, which subsequently tightened some bylaws.
In 1991, plans were developed for revitalization of the park, but no further work took place until 2003, when the Lethbridge Rotary Club approached the city with a $3.7 million master plan to revitalize the park for a Rotary 2005 Centennial Project. The city, province and local businesses promised funds for the development.
Urban park
An urban park, is also known as a municipal park or a public park, public open space or municipal gardens , is a park in cities and other incorporated places to offer recreation and green space to residents of, and visitors to, the municipality...
located in downtown
Downtown Lethbridge
Downtown Lethbridge is the commercial centre of Lethbridge, Alberta, hosting most of the city's banks and several accounting and law practices, including national firms.-Boundaries:...
Lethbridge
Lethbridge
Lethbridge is a city in the province of Alberta, Canada, and the largest city in southern Alberta. It is Alberta's fourth-largest city by population after Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer, and the third-largest by area after Calgary and Edmonton. The nearby Canadian Rockies contribute to the city's...
, 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...
. It is the location of many of the city's festivals
Festivals in Lethbridge
The following is a list of annual festivals and cultural events that take place in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada:-Winter:*Family Fest *Carnevale di Masque *Figure Skating Carnival *Winterfest -Spring:...
and is also the home of the Southern Alberta Art Gallery
Southern Alberta Art Gallery
The Southern Alberta Art Gallery is located in downtown Lethbridge, Alberta and is known as one of Canada's top ten contemporary art galleries. It has three gallery spaces and a gift shop.-History:...
.
History
The land that eventually became Galt Gardens was owned by the GaltAlexander Tilloch Galt
Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt, GCMG, PC was a politician and a father of Canadian Confederation.He was born in Chelsea, England, the son of Scottish novelist and colonizer, John Galt, and Elizabeth Tilloch Galt. He was a cousin of Sir Hugh Allan.Alexander Galt is interred in the Mount Royal Cemetery...
family, local entrepreneurs. When the original town plan was surveyed in 1885, Elliot Galt ensured the area was reserved as parkland. As the central business district of Lethbridge sprung up around the land, which had become to be known as The Square, the citizens began using it as their own, and it served as the location for most town fairs and sports events.
In 1909, Elliot and John Galt donated the land to the city to be held in perpetuity as parkland. The park was named Galt Gardens in their honour and it was the cultural focal point of the city for many years.
Although trees had been planted around the edge of the park as early as 1901, significant plans were created to further develop the park. The Lethbridge fire department took responsibility for much of the landscaping, and by the 1920s the garden resembled what it is today.
Post-World War II through the ’60s, the park lost some of its lustre as the downtown core became a hangout for “idlers.” Citizens brought the problems of panhandling and other behavioural troubles to the attention of city council, which recognized the call for action and tightened some bylaws governing park use.
Following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and until the 1970s, the park saw a substantial increase in panhandlers. The panhandling and related activities drove people away from the park, and eventually citizens brought the issues to the attention of Lethbridge City Council, which subsequently tightened some bylaws.
In 1991, plans were developed for revitalization of the park, but no further work took place until 2003, when the Lethbridge Rotary Club approached the city with a $3.7 million master plan to revitalize the park for a Rotary 2005 Centennial Project. The city, province and local businesses promised funds for the development.