Douglasdale Park Habitat Management Plan
Douglasdale Natural Area Park
Douglasdale Natural Area Park is an important part of Calgary’s Bow River corridor and ecological network that supports wildlife habitat and native vegetation while providing opportunities for people to walk, cycle and enjoy nature close to home.
The Douglasdale Habitat Management Plan is a long-term plan to protect and restore the health and ecological function of the park while supporting opportunities for people to enjoy and connect with nature.
Why work is needed?
Douglasdale is an important natural area that experiences high daily use. Residents value the park for its natural character, wildlife, opportunities to walk and cycle, and access to nature close to home.
Natural areas require ongoing care and management to protect ecological health, support wildlife and balance the impacts of environmental pressures and everyday use. In Douglasdale, a combination of environmental pressures and park use has led to:
- Erosion along the riverbank
- Informal trails that damage vegetation
- Invasive plant species
- Increased off-trail activity in sensitive areas
Without action, these pressures can affect wildlife habitat, damage natural features and reduce the park's long-term sustainability, making it more difficult to maintain and enjoy over time.
How the plan responds
The Douglasdale Habitat Management Plan is a 10-year plan that focuses on maintaining and improving the park’s ecological function while continuing to support how people use and enjoy the space today. Public feedback helped identify community priorities, while ecological assessments and habitat management best practices informed the actions recommended in the plan.
The plan focuses on practical actions to maintain and improve the habitat health and ecological function of the park while maintaining access for visitors.
Protecting key natural features
like riverbanks, native vegetation and wildlife habitat
Repairing damaged areas
through invasive plant management, native plantings and seeding
Managing how people move through the park
by improving designated routes and reducing impacts from informal trails
Supporting long-term ecosystem health
through ongoing monitoring and maintenance
These actions are targeted to areas where impacts are highest and where changes will have the greatest long-term benefit.
By taking action now, the plan helps restore and protect wildlife habitat, improve ecosystem health and reduce ongoing impacts from erosion and informal trails. These improvements also help ensure Douglasdale remains a natural, enjoyable place for people to walk, cycle and connect with nature for years to come.
What we’re working toward:
"Douglasdale Natural Area Park is managed as a healthy natural area that supports biodiversity, maintains ecological connectivity, and provides opportunities for Calgarians to connect with nature."
In simple terms, that means a healthy natural area where wildlife, native plants and people can continue to thrive together for years to come.
What you may notice
Work in Douglasdale will take place in phases over the next 10 years. Plans are designed to adapt as work progresses, so timing and sequencing may change based on conditions in the park.
Over time, this work will help restore damaged areas, improve habitat health and reduce ongoing impacts from erosion and informal trail use.
- Planning, site assessments and priority actions
- Initial invasive plant management
- Early restoration in high-impact areas
- Improvements to designated trails and reduced use of informal routes
- Restoration work and planting
- Improvements to riverbank stability and access
- Continued maintenance and monitoring
- Additional restoration as needed
- Adjustments based on how the park responds over time
Plans are designed to adapt as work progresses, so timing and sequencing may change based on conditions in the park.
Park images
What this means for you
This work is designed to protect and improve the park’s long-term ecosystem health while continuing to support how people use and value the park today. You can expect the park to:
- Continue to support wildlife, native vegetation and healthy riverbank areas
- Remain accessible for walking and cycling
- Have clearer, more consistent routes through the park
- Feel natural and not overdeveloped
- Remain healthy and resilient in the face of future environmental pressures and use
Some short-term changes may be noticeable, but they are intended to help the park remain healthy, resilient and enjoyable for years to come.
What we heard
The plan was developed using feedback from residents, park users and community groups, alongside ecological assessments, technical expertise and accepted habitat management practices.
People told us they value Douglasdale for its natural character, wildlife, opportunities to walk and cycle and access to the Bow River corridor. Many also expressed a desire to protect the park from the impacts of erosion, informal trails and ongoing wear from heavy use.
The Habitat Management Plan was developed with these priorities in mind, balancing public access with actions that help protect and restore the natural features that make Douglasdale special.
Stay informed
- Updates will be shared as work progresses
- Contact 311 for questions or concerns
- Visit this page for ongoing updates
Explore Other Habitat Management Plans
Each park is different. Visit individual HMP pages to learn what’s happening in specific locations and what you can expect over time.
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Douglasdale Natural Area Park
You are here -
Edworthy Natural Area Park
Coming soon -
Weaselhead Flats
Coming soon