Plans For City Parks, Greenspaces, Naturalization and More!
Article by Monika Smith, Master Gardener
Many residents find themselves questioning some of the City’s decisions, which can sometimes lead to concerns about higher taxes, infrastructure challenges, or conflicts between residents, bylaws, developers, and staff. However, there is positive news to share.
The City has created a master parks plan, called: Connect: Calgary’s Parks Plan. You can download it as a PDF from https://engage.calgary.ca/ParksPlan.
The City is dramatically growing in population and demanding densification of older neighbourhoods, which we’re certainly seeing in Glendale. Yet everyone agrees that Calgary needs more trees and more accessibility to nature. Wellness is now considered an important aspect of parks, and the City ensures in its 20-year plan that the park system needs to be thriving and welcoming but also sensitive to biodiversity and a healthy ecology. The expansion of the park system has to be done in thoughtful ways to meet the future needs of all residents, regardless of their age, ability, income, culture, or background.
“The park system is a critical component of a thriving, attractive city that supports healthy living. The system plays an important role in mitigating extreme weather, protecting Calgarians by providing shady relief from extreme heat events and managing storm and flood waters. The system supports economic development by providing space for tourism, events, community gatherings, and celebrations. While often overlooked as key infrastructure, parks are as integral as roads and utilities in providing connections between urban communities, as well as contributing to residents’ well-being.”
The City has endorsed naturalization of parks and encouraged residents to favour drought-resistant plants and promote hardy species that can handle our weather and still look beautiful. During the early days of Naturally, Glendale and Monika’s Grove, I was encouraged in creating my wild and messy native plant garden. The City also has a responsibility for urban wild animals and is working hard to keep corridors, food, and water optimal for them.
There are quite a few residents who are adding native plants, or water-wise plants that can deal with drought and are hardy to our weather conditions. There are many native plants that can become wonderful focal points in your garden. Many are long lived, tough, and beautiful and even provide great winter interest, while providing shelter and food to birds, insects, and other bugs and critters. Many provide foods. ‘Old fashioned’ plants have proven their worth, such as the common lilac with its beautiful fragrant blossoms or a big shrub that can live to more than 100 years and are food and shelter for birds and many insects. I love peonies! I have one already 50 years old and still thriving; and will be for another few decades.
Let’s attract native bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and moths and provide the environment where they can thrive. Our park, that somewhat green desert, can become a healthy ecology full of life, while we benefit from being in a beautiful, flowering yard that lets us take time enjoy a place to picnic, read, relax, and smell the roses.
For more information about Naturally, Glendale or Monika’s Grove contact Monika Smith at [email protected].
Cover of the Connect: Calgary’s Parks Plan. Download and read about the plan to modernize the park system that will serve the needs of Calgarians and support a wide variety of users.
Click here to the Glendale Community News home page for the latest Glendale community updates.
