City announces new 190 acre River Valley Park in NE Edmonton
The city's River Valley park system expands this summer with the addition of a new public park in Northeast Edmonton. Nestled along the North Saskatchewan River, these 190 acres of developed parkland connects with popular River Valley trails and includes unique features such as charming barn bridges, an ornamental lake, a large events centre for gatherings and weddings, trail connections, children’s playground and public washrooms.
“Edmontonians have told us loud and clear that they want to expand River Valley access to enjoy more opportunities to connect with friends, family and the natural world around them,” said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi. “I hope this new park will serve as an important gathering place for generations of residents as our city continues to grow.”
The picturesque park, previously known as Our Lady Queen of Peace Ranch North, is located at 17 Street NE and 153 Avenue NE, and its acquisition comes at a time when the City of Edmonton is investing in the wellbeing of Edmontonians, providing opportunities for quality outdoor recreation experiences and expanding the Ribbon of Green network for biodiversity and ecological integrity.
While the City acquired the park on May 15, it will not open to the public until late Summer 2023 because staff need to perform proper inspections, maintenance work and prepare the facilities and grounds for public use.
https://www.edmonton.ca/activities_parks_recreation/parks_rivervalley/northeast-river-valley-park
How much is a city owned tree worth
City-owned trees are valued down to the last cent, as illustrated on the bright yellow Tree Protection Zone signs along stretches of Stony Plain Road closed during LRT construction. Fenced-off trees stand on both sides of the arterial road and even along some side streets.
The American elms have among the highest price tags. One near 132nd Street and 104th Avenue is valued at $24,793.35. Three others are valued between $14,000 and $21,000. One nearby ash is tagged at $4,520.08, another at $2,702.26. A scraggly spruce is $2,288.06.
The City values trees using the Guide for Plant Appraisal, published by the International Society of Arboriculture. The formula considers size, condition and growing limitation. It posts the value “to demonstrate to both the public and anyone working around the tree that trees are valuable assets.”
A November 2022 City blog post says: “The project agreement for the Valley Line West states that a fence goes up around a tree designated as protected or preserved if it is within 20 metres of construction.” It adds that 300 trees on City property are being removed in the “current phase of tree removal” on the Valley Line West LRT route along Stony Plain Road/104 Avenue between 121st Street and 139th Street. https://urbanaffairs.ca/edmonton-ish/heres-why-the-city-is-placing-pricetags-on-trees/
Wildlife friendly things to do around your home
Windows, buckets and vents are part of the human landscape, but they can pose significant hazards to wildlife. Collisions with windows kill an estimated one billion birds each year worldwide.
During the day, birds see through windows, not realizing there is an obstruction, or they may see the reflections of trees or the sky and think that there is nothing in their way. Place bird feeders and baths within one metre from a window. Place decals on large windows. Some stores sell subtle decals that reflect ultraviolet light, which is visible to birds but not to humans.
Fledglings, baby hares, and even frogs can get trapped in window wells, rain barrels, and buckets. Install covers or screens on your window wells and rain barrels. Store buckets upside down so they do not fill with rainwater or place a stick inside a bucket of water so wildlife has a way to climb out.
Private residences and buildings have a variety of vents. Improperly covered dryer or stove vents are a popular spot for sparrows to nest. The sparrows collect nesting materials to line their nest and this can create a fire hazard in your vent. https://www.ealt.ca/safe-habitats-for-wildlife
Mountain Bluebird usually spotted because of the male’s sky-blue colour
Lise writes “What a delight to read about Mountain Bluebirds in the newsletter. I am a member of the Calgary Area Nest-box Monitors’ Society which was formed over 40 years ago, to provide cavity nesting spots for these beautiful birds. Today, about 100 members monitor 5,000 boxes, covering 2,000 km in ranges of favourable habitat, from the foothills of the Rockies west of Calgary, and east of Didsbury and Olds.
About one-third of members band birds, and all members monitor the birds’ activities, from nesting attempts to numbers of eggs, hatchlings, and fledglings. In 2022, our bluebirds showed a remarkable success rate: 5,836 birds.
The Abduction of Liberty by Ryan McCourt, Belgravia Art Park. DCM Photography. https://www.edmontonpublicart.ca/#!/details/104
Comment or contribution
Please note that articles may not reflect the position of NSRVCS. River Valley News is meant to be a clearinghouse for the wide variety of opinions and ideas about Edmonton’s River Valley. Email river valley photos, event information, comments, or questions to nsrivervalley@gmail.com
Sincerely yours,
Harvey Voogd
North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society
780.691.1712