Edworthy Park sits in a valley along the Bow River in southwest Calgary and includes the majestic Douglas Fir Trail and historical Lawrey Gardens.
Research on Douglas Firs in Edworthy Park - May 21
In partnership with The City of Calgary, the University of Regina (U of R) is conducting research on how the flow of the Bow River has changed over time. The U of R research is part of a larger project looking at climate change and its impact on the flow of the North Saskatchewan River.
The research involves non-destructive sampling of tree rings from approximately 20 Douglas Fir trees in Edworthy Park and the Douglas Fir reserve. The sampling involves the collection of two small cores (approximately 4 mm in diameter) from the bark to the centre of each tree. Dead wood lying in the forest will also be sampled using a hand saw to obtain small disks.
The growth rings in trees are a good indication of soil moisture over time, which can be correlated to river flows. Samples taken at various points along the Bow River will establish historical river flows and how they have changed over time.
The City is pleased to partner with the University of Regina on this research. The results of the research will help The City evaluate the reliability of Calgary’s current water supply and how we manage it.
Location: 5050 Spruce Dr. S.W. (Bow Tr. & Spruce Dr. S.W.)
Area: 169 hectares
Park hours: 5 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Book this park Book a picnic siteEdworthy Park Map
Park features
- Playground
- Picnic sites
- Picnic shelters
- Pathways
- Gazebo
- Firepits and BBQ stands
- Picnic tables
- Benches
- Off-leash areas
- Public washroom (seasonal)
About the park
Bordered by the Bow River and the community of Wildwood, Edworthy Park is a large diverse park that makes it a year-round destination. Edworthy Park includes the natural areas of Douglas Fir Trail and Lawrey Gardens.
History
Edworthy Park was once a part of the Cochrane Ranch and was eventually purchased by Thomas Edworthy in 1883. Along side his neighbour John Lawrey, Edworthy established a profitable garden market that supplied fresh fruit and vegetables to railway crews and homesteaders. In later years, after discovering sandstone on his property, he operated sandstone quarries for the construction of many buildings in Calgary. The land was purchased by the City in 1962 for the development of a park.
