North Strathcona County Regional Park Master Plan

Client Strathcona County
Location Sherwood Park | Alberta | Canada
 

Strathcona County will embark on a transformative venture with the development of a regional park along the North Saskatchewan River. This ambitious project envisions the rejuvenation of a 290-acre brownfield, formerly utilized for farming and gravel extraction, into a regenerative river park over the next 15 years.

 The master planning process was a catalyst for The County to advance reconciliation with Indigenous Communities and First Nations. Through extensive engagement the common theme heard was to restore this land that had given so much through clearing and extraction, to make this a place that welcomes all through a healing process between land and people.

The master plan sets out a vision and implementation strategy for the land’s rejuvenation and operations. It aims to strike a harmonious balance between inclusive outdoor recreation, nature appreciation, gathering, and acknowledging the history of this place.

 Key features include diverse wetland habitat shaped from remnant extraction pits with boardwalks, beaches, and launch points providing intimate water experiences, a central gathering place that welcomes users and guides them through the park, a central lawn space provides space for large gatherings and ceremony, as well as extensive trails and pathways that connect to the larger regional system.