A partnership between the City of
Calgary Parks, the Calgary Public Library and the Calgary Area
Cachers to celebrate Calgary Parks 100th anniversary.
Calgary Parks has supplied cache containers and swag for 100
caches which have been placed in 100 parks around Calgary. In River
Park you're looking for a sandwich-sized Lock'n'Lock. At the time
of activation the cache contained a log book, pencil and eraser,
unactivated FTF GeoCoin, and off course, the usual 'swag',
supplemented by yours truly.
Background
Information
The River Park/Sandy Beach area is located in an established
neighbourhood, adjacent to the Elbow River. It is bordered on the
north by 38 Ave. S.W., on the south by 50 Ave. S.W., on the west by
14A St. S.W., and on the east by the Elbow River. The Britannia
Slopes area is located directly across the Elbow River from the
River Park/Sandy Beach site. The area came into City ownership in
the late 1950's as part of an extensive development arrangement
with Glenbow Investments, headed up at the time by D.S. Harvie. The
intent was to provide a site to be planned as a "park for rest and
relaxation in a natural setting". It was suggested that the
landscape should be developed "to enhance natural features of the
land". It was required that there be no automobile traffic
permitted in the park, but that there be a system of foot and bike
paths connecting different activity areas. A bridle path was also
suggested and there was to be no commercial activity or concession
in the park.
The Riveredge facility became available to Community
organizations to rent for outdoor education and recreation events
and activities in the early 1980's. In the late 1980's the park was
identified as an area that permitted dog walking off-leash. Today
the park area is well used both by local residents and Calgarians
in general. The site faces many challenges, including high use
pressures, conflicts among different user groups and degradation of
the riparian habitat directly along the Elbow river.