Council put forward a notice of motion (December 2018) to explore placing public gardens along the Green Line. Public gardens are places that bring people together to:
Parks Foundation Calgary will lead this program based on their experience with these kinds of projects. Their Public Gardens Master Plan will identify an initial six project areas. For more information, you can read the Green Line LRT Public Gardens Scoping Report.
A public garden is a piece of land appropriated for public enjoyment and recreation that serves as a gathering place for communities. It may be cultivated and ought to be enriched by art.
Railway gardens have historically beautified public spaces through landscaping along railway lines. The Public Garden Program will use this vision to create vibrant modern public spaces. Public gardens will focus on six key themes:
Public art in Harley Hotchkiss Gardens near the 4 Street SW LRT station.
The Public Gardens Initiative is closely tied to long-term goals like Calgary’s Greater Downtown Plan and the City Shaping Framework. Benefits to Green Line communities include: