Beaver Hills House Park & Michael Phair Park Renewal

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Beaver Hills House Park and Michael Phair Park are being renewed.

Project update - April 2024

Beaver Hills House Park and Michael Phair park are soon to be renewed. The project team has concluded detailed design and construction-ready documents will go out for tender in early April 2024, in order to get a contractor for spring 2024 construction.

Construction is anticipated to take place over two years, completion is expected in fall 2025.

A What We Heard Report report for the final stage of engagement is now available.

Park Design Updates

When we completed engagement in August 2022, you told us the following considerations were the most important to you when renewing Beaver Hills House Park and Michael Phair Park:

Safety and security
Year-round use and activation

The Project Team has used these considerations, as well as City Policies and Programs and technical requirements, to develop the designs for both parks.

Preliminary Design

Beaver Hills House Park and Michael Phair Park Rendered Plan

Preliminary Design Park Plan - View larger image

Jasper Avenue Plaza (entrance feature, cafe seating, Aboriginal Walk of Honour on low wall and focal point)
Reshaped planting beds (trees and artwork maintained where possible, retaining walls and benches are replaced)
Heart of the Park (water feature is removed, ground surface is raised, centre area for large events, amphitheatre-style seating in sod)
Activated back corner with bouldering wall
New planting bed to maintain existing large trees
Children’s play feature
Renewed park connection (existing wall is partially removed, existing south washroom building is fully removed and new washroom building is added)
Michael Phair Plaza (busker stage and string lighting, cafe seating and food truck parking, playful seating and new trees)

Beaver Hills House Park

Beaver Hills House Park rendering

Beaver Hills House Park - View larger image

The renewed park design provides a central gathering space or “heart” of the park surrounded with amphitheatre seating in grass. Accessible pathways with new paving, flexible seating, new lighting and trees, as well as a new washroom building will be provided. Playful elements such as a children’s natural play structure and a bouldering wall will provide interactive elements within the park. Near Jasper Avenue, an open area will allow flexible space for events and will re-integrate the existing Aboriginal Walk of Honour.

Michael Phair Park

Rendering: Michael Phair Park

Michael Phair Park - View larger image

The park design includes a busking stage with string lighting, designated space for food truck parking, playful seating and games area as well as new trees.

Wall Removal

Based on Phase 1 engagement and stakeholder feedback, the Project Team examined the feasibility of removing the existing large wall between Beaver Hills House Park and Michael Phair Park. The City has allocated a portion of the project budget to partially remove the existing large wall. This will open up the space between the two parks to allow more light and views and will help the two parks feel more connected. It will also improve safety near the lane, because of improved sight lines for both cars and pedestrians.

The existing wall is home to a sculptural mural entitled “Amiskwaciw Waskayhkan Ihtawin.” The Project Team has been working with the original artist to incorporate the birds from this mural into the new park design.

Tree Removal

As the Project Team has developed designs for both parks, and in consultation with the City's forestry experts, we have determined some trees will need to be removed that are in poor condition or cannot be properly accessed for maintenance. Existing, healthy trees will be preserved and we will be planting new trees in locations with good growing conditions that are easily accessible for ongoing maintenance. As part of the design of both parks, we have done our best to ensure the parks have the right balance of trees and landscaping, accessible pathways, and clear sight lines throughout.

About the Project

Beaver Hills House Park and Michael Phair Park are two open spaces in Edmonton’s downtown. This project will renew aging infrastructure within the parks and will also improve the overall design and function. The goal of the renewal, in addition to repairing or replacing the existing infrastructure, is to improve safety and accessibility and increase the use of these open spaces in our downtown.

The project will make improvements in lighting, sightlines and other park features, as well as upgrade and fix park infrastructure. A new public washroom will also be added.

The City of Edmonton is currently in the design phase for the renovation of the parks. The design will be completed per The City Plan, Capital City Downtown Plan , the Urban Design Framework , the Downtown Public Places Plan and in accordance with Breathe: Edmonton’s Green Network Strategy, which supports a multifunctional green network.

While there will be technical constraints that will limit options for some park elements, through a series of engagement opportunities the City will be gathering input from stakeholders and the public to advise on improvements to the design.

Construction is anticipated to start in 2024. It is expected the parks will be completed in 2025.

Project Timeline

Project life cycle Design chevron

2025

Anticipated completion

2024

Final design, site preparation, and construction

2023

Concept Design, Preliminary design, and Detailed Design

Project History

Project update - May 2023

Thank you for engaging with us during the preliminary design engagement for Beaver Hills House Park and Michael Phair Park. Engagement was held from April 26 - May 17 and a What We Heard report will be made available in the coming months.

This was the final stage of engagement for both park renewals. The project team will now review all of the feedback provided, along with technical information and City policies and programs, to develop a final design. We will share that design when it is available. Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2024.

Project update - November 2022

Thank you to everyone who participated in the public engagement opportunity in August 2022. The survey has now closed. A What We Heard Report summarizing the results of that engagement is available.

What We Heard Report

Contact Us

Open Space Planning and Design
14th Floor, Edmonton Tower
10111 - 104 Avenue NW
Edmonton, AB T5J 0J4

Telephone	311 Outside Edmonton call: 780-442-5311
Online	Contact 311 Online

Telephone

311

Outside Edmonton call: 780-442-5311

Online

Contact 311 Online