by Katrina Terrill, Executive Director of the Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society
The wind whispers through willow branches along the banks of the slowly melting creek. Flocks of geese fly overhead looking for their perfect nesting spot for the spring. A woodpecker drills into the side of a nearby fallen tree, while a yapping coyote can be heard in the distance. Alongside these idyllic nature scenes, you can also hear…bicycle bells and the distant rumble of Tsuut’ina Trail? While walking in Fish Creek Provincial Park can sometimes feel like a stroll through an isolated wilderness, this local treasure is situated well within the city of Calgary and is one of the largest urban parks in Canada.
Fish Creek Provincial Park wasn’t always considered to be so urban. When the park was first established in 1975 (as Peter Lougheed’s first act as Alberta’s Premier), the grounds were on the very edge of Calgary. As the city grew, so too did interest in living near a large natural area, and soon Fish Creek Provincial Park was engulfed by the growing city. These days, Fish Creek Provincial Park has more than 350,000 people in sixteen communities live next to Fish Creek, along with an estimated three to four million visitors per year. It is a vital part of the fabric of Calgary, with 63 unique plant ecosystems, hundreds of species of wild animals, picnic areas, a lake for swimming, and over 100 kilometres of trails for people to explore.
2025 marks an incredible milestone for Fish Creek Provincial Park – its golden anniversary. This park has meant so much to so many people over the past 50 years, and we at the Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society are eager to celebrate with you all! We invite you to mark your calendar for a special 50th Anniversary party on June 7 at the Bow Valley Ranch day-use area. Join us and many community partners between 10:00 am to 3:00 pm for a party featuring family-friendly activities, free plant/seed giveaways, a 50/50 raffle, prize draws, food trucks, and much more!
In advance of the event, we are also asking community members to share their stories and photos of their experiences within Fish Creek Provincial Park over the last 50 years. Submit your memories to us at [email protected], and you could be featured on our social media pages and website in the lead-up to the event, as well as a special 50th Anniversary edition of the Friends’ calendar.
Anniversaries like these are incredibly special, and we at the Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park are looking forward to celebrating with all of our neighbours soon!
For more information on this event and other Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society activities, head to our website at www.friendsoffishcreek.org.
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