Blakiston Park

Client The City of Calgary
Location Calgary | Alberta | Canada

O2 Planning + Design was retained by The City of Calgary in the spring of 2014 to lead the preparation and implementation of a Design Development Plan for Blakiston Park. The site is an important public space near the Brentwood C-Train Station; as a link between shopping, transit and residential areas, Blakiston is a key amenity. However, aging infrastructure and outdated design meant the full potential of the park was far from realized. Concurrent plans for Transit Oriented Development in the area, driven by the City’s Brentwood Station Area Redevelopment Plan, offered a significant opportunity to transform the green space into a community focal point by updating its overall design.

O2 developed two proposed concepts for Blakiston Park, based on the issues and opportunities identified through community engagement and analysis of existing site conditions. O2 worked with local stakeholders to refine a preferred design for the re-imagined park; three distinct engagement phases were undertaken in order to receive feedback for every milestone, to gauge success in interpretation of feedback, and to seek opportunities to improve the conceptual plans. 

This iterative design process secured $2.85 million in funding from the City, allowing construction to begin in 2016. O2 was also contracted to manage construction administration to ensure the level of quality evident in the designs was translated to the built form. 

The final park design is inspired by whimsical shapes and playful experiences. The meandering pathway allows for leisurely walks and moments of calm, while active areas borrow from their surroundings to offer an urban front that compliments an increase in density and activity. Adjacent developments such as University City allow the park to interact with these boundaries in a more lively manner. Playful shapes can be found throughout, celebrating the unique character and place of Blakiston Park.