St. Patrick's Island

"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)