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View of Edmonton's River Valley from Queen Elizabeth Park

[of Queen Elizabeth Park]

Queen Elizabeth Park (also referred to as Queen E Park) is a river valley municipal park in Edmonton, Alberta. Its proximity to the North Saskatchewan River and Edmonton's city centre in addition to its amenities and points of interest provide Edmontonians and visitors a variety of activities. The history of the park and some of its structures date prior to the amalgamation of the city of Strathcona and the city of Edmonton in 1912.

Location

Parks line both sides of the North Saskatchewan, which flows through the city from the southwest to the northeast.

The Edmonton municipal park forms part of the North Saskatchewan River valley parks system, bordered to the north by the North Saskatchewan River. Its eastern boundary is intersected by a small enclave of homes in Old Strathcona known as Skunk Hollow, along Lavigne Road and 90 and 91 Avenues. Its western limits are defined by Queen Elizabeth Park Road which leads into the river valley to the Walterdale Bridge and to Edmonton's city centre. The park trails also form part of the 235 km Waskahegan walking trail.

History

Queen Elizabeth Park was formerly known as Riverside Park. The park was renamed in honour of the Queen's visit to Edmonton on her 1939 North American tour.

Outdoor Pool

On August 2, 1922 Edmonton Mayor D.M. Duggan opened the first municipal pool in Western Canada, the South Side Pool. The cost to the city was $ 18,647.50. The pool was renamed to the Queen Elizabeth Pool on the occasion of the royal visit. The pool was closed down in 2004 and the Friends of the Queen Elizabeth Pool Society attempted to raise funds to rehabilitate the aging structure. Renovation was deemed too costly, and in 2005 Mayor Stephen Mandel approved the construction of a new outdoor pool and spray park on the grounds of the Kinsmen Field House that opened in July of 2011 at a cost of $6.5 million.

Brewing Company

Within the boundaries of this river valley park, the Strathcona Brewing and Malting Company began brewing beer in 1894, in what was then Strathcona, a separate city on the south banks of the North Saskatchewan river. Strathcona achieved town status in 1899, city status in 1907, and finally amalgamated with Edmonton in 1912. The company changed hands, and went out of business on July 1st, 1916 when the prohibition came into place.

Points of Interest

Forest

Queen Elizabeth park, as with other parkland adjacent to the North Saskatchewan River, serves as good example of northern boreal forest and aspen parkland. Edmonton's parklands are also home to one of the largest remaining concentrations of healthy American Elm trees in the world, unaffected by Dutch Elm disease, which has wiped out vast numbers of such trees in eastern North America. Jack Pine, Lodgepole Pine, White Spruce, White Birch, Aspen, Green Ash, Basswood, various poplars and willows, and Manitoba Maple are also abundant.

Bodies of Water

The park's northern border is defined by the curve of the North Saskatchewan River. It is Canada's 12th longest river.

Recreational Facilities

The park is home to many walking and biking trails as well as picnic sites, washroom facility, and a playground. The new Queen Elizabeth Park outdoor pool finds its home in the adjacent parkland of Walterdale, on the grounds of the Kinsmen Field House.

It has excellent bike and walking trail connections.

Animals

Edmonton's river valley park system is home to birds, rabbits, porcupines, skunks, squirrels and many other herbivorous species. Coyotes and, less commonly, foxes have been spotted in this and other Edmonton park areas.