St. Patrick’s Island Park

"St. Patrick’s Island is one I always come back to. I think what makes it so impactful is that it feels a bit like a disruptor in the city. If you compare it to somewhere like Prince’s Island Park, with all the open grass lawn, St. Patrick’s feels much more naturalized. I really appreciate the creative play in it, too, even in something as simple as a mound with steps at the back and all the different ways people can use it. What is really interesting to me is how the space has been allowed to build out over time, almost like an ecosystem, especially so close to downtown. There is also this balance of built and unbuilt parts, and different ways to interact with the space. It is one of the few places on the Bow where they intentionally created access to the river, so people can actually go in and engage with it directly. That feels really special." (Adapted from interview material. Edited for clarity while preserving the participant’s voice)

"I live and spend much of my time in the urban core of Calgary. For me that means being surrounded by buildings, people and continuous movement. I appreciate and thrive in this urban setting but do find a need for balance with nature and open spaces is needed for balance. In response, a space I often return and feel provides a strong example of quality space is the urban park St. Patrick’s Island. It blends naturalized space that allow local species to thrive with bespoke urban interventions. It is accessible and vibrant in all seasons which is no small feat. The park has been built out for a decade and the support buildings, pathways, artwork, play structures, etc. all continue to feel relevant and distinctive. While many components feel special there are a few extraordinary design gestures that stand out to me. The first is dubbed “the rise.” In the heart of the island there is a hill that is passively and actively programmed. The simple gesture of creating a mound in part to deal with excess fill material from the islands broader design has resulted in one of the most spontaneous and joyful spaces. It is a rare day that you do not see someone rolling, sitting, sledding down this simple intervention – the rise. The second place on the island that has personally resonated, is a natural water park which consists of access to a shallow diversion of the Bow river. As a landlocked city, the rivers make up much of the public water space. As the Bow river is fed from the Rocky mountains, it is a cold, fast and dynamic river. This little intervention dynamically diverts a small portion of a mighty river by carving small urban space to an accessible, calm, safe playground for citizens of all ages to wade safely into the waters."(Booklet Positive Lived Experiences of Quality in the Built Environment 2024, p.65). Google map link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/tYGp7DNjWMNZG1r88