Centenary Park is located southeast of the Calgary Zoo on St. Patrick's Island.
Location: 1301 Zoo Rd. S.E. at Memorial Dr. & Baines Bridge
Area: 11 hectares
Park hours: 5 a.m. - 11 p.m.
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Park features
- Benches
- Picnic areas
- Pathways
- Canoe/raft access to the river
About the park
Centenary Park occupies about 11 hectares on Saint Patrick's Island in the Bow River where it flows through the northeast part of the city. The park features pathways, picnic areas a disc golf course and is home to a variety of flora and fauna.
Experience nature in the city
Plant life
Most of the park is a mature riverine deciduous forest and shrub community with an abundance of flora and fauna. Throughout the park, the forest floor is well populated with wild flowers such as Blue-Columbine, Wild Bergamot and Prairie Gentian.
Wildlife
The differences between the main channel of the Bow River and the inner channel encourage an interesting variety of aquatic habitats in a small area. The outer channel is deep and fast and directly across from the confluence with the Elbow River. Many species of water birds, particularly California and Ring-billed Gulls, use this area. The inner channel, which is practically dry for part of the year, provides the habitat for dabbling ducks like Mallards and several species of shorebirds including Spotted Sandpipers.
The dense riverine forest is alive with warblers and vireos during migration season and at the right time of year at the downstream end of the island you might see Osprey raising young on an artificial nesting pole.
During late June and July, the park is frequented by a substantial population of White Admiral and Canadian Tiger Swallowtail butterflies.
History
Since the earliest days of the city, the island has been used as parkland, playground and even a public campground. For a short period, a part of the island was used as a tree nursery. The park received its current name in 1975 to mark the city's centennial.
