The City of Calgary Parks and Open Spaces has designed a miniature hedge labyrinth and topiary shrub bed to be installed in Crescent Park this spring and summer.
A labyrinth is an ancient geometrical pattern that is typically walked through and used for self-reflection, meditation, and stress reduction. Low growing shrubs will be planted to create the shape of the labyrinth’s path and maintained to a height of less than one meter.
Topiary is the art or practice of clipping shrubs or trees into ornamental shapes. The topiary bed will include varieties of spruce, cedar, yew, junipers, and pines shaped into balls, spirals, pyramids, and hedges.
Park visitors will be invited to traverse the pathway in and out of the center of the labyrinth, while also enjoying the variety of trees and shrubs in the topiary bed.
Parks and Open Spaces envisions the project to provide a creative, innovative, and engaging new way to experience nature at Crescent Park. Goals of the project include:
• Providing an additional activity to park users that is open to all ages and mobility levels.
• Increasing habitat for pollinators and birds.
• Creating a new point of interest for nearby pathway users.
• An opportunity to increase happiness and improve mental health and wellness for visitors.
The labyrinth will be located in the southern portion of the park and will complement the existing sports fields, playground, and other amenities. The entire project will be about the size of two tennis courts once complete.
Site preparation is expected to start in June or July with planting to follow. Disruption during installation is anticipated to be minimal as work is located away from roads and pathways and does not involve large equipment. Informational signage will be placed onsite during installation.
Please contact 3-1-1 with any questions about the project.
Located in the Crescent Heights community, Crescent Park is bound by Crescent Road NW to the south, Second Street NW to the east, Third Street NW to the west, and the lane behind 12 Avenue NW to the north. The park dates from 1923 and is comprised of an open/ornamental area and a variety of recreational areas.
Click here to the Crescent Heights Community News home page for the latest Crescent Heights community updates.
