Paskapoo Slopes Natural Park
Paskapoo Slopes Stakeholder Working Group (PSWG)
From the September 2009 issue of The Broadcaster
The City of Calgary Parks is developing a management plan for the Paskapoo Slopes Natural Environment Park. Paskapoo Slopes, the escarpment of the Bow River, is sectioned by several ravines and extends along the south side of Trans Canada Highway for roughly 4 kilometers. Aspen forests and balsam poplar woodlands cover much of the escarpment that rises 155 meters above the highway. The forested hill is beautiful and is a landmark on the city’s gateway from the west, similar in significance to Nose Hill Park in ecological quality and visual impact.
Large portions of Paskapoo Slopes are considered environmentally significant and park development and operations have extensively studied it since 1991. In prehistoric times, First Nations people used the area extensively. The escarpment ridge offered an excellent viewof the Bow River valley and the steep slopes proved ideal ground for driving bison herds to kill sites and processing camps. Archaeological digs along the escarpment have uncovered several kill sites, processing camps and larger First Nations base camps. The area is considered to be a northern extension of the Porcupine Hills/Oldman River basin pattern of bison driving. This pattern of bison hunting is unique and is similar in complexity to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump site at Fort Macleod.
Several meetings were held in 2008, the last in November when a draft version of the natural park vision was shared with the working group membership. Since then the parks team have been very busy — concept designs for entry features, an interpretive trail, interpretive panels, viewpoints and parking are being drafted. The overall focus is on First Nations interpretation, protecting the environment and passive recreation, as outlined in the proposed vision developed by the working group.
The City of Calgary has begun developing the draft management plan.
Discussions continue with adjacent landowners around possibilities with regard to the interface between their lands and the park boundary.
A development application is in process for lands above the park in Cougar Ridge for a small residential development. This is where the parking lot for the park is foreseen and there would be a Municipal Reserve (MR) area with a local pathway linking into the Paskapoo Slopes park.
There are no updates with regard to the proposed Patterson Ridge land use amendment (regarding their proposed development adjacent to the park site), which was tabled indefinitely late last year.
Calgary Parks is conducting site visits to determine location and type of invasive weed species in the park and developing a plan to address the situation going forward.
The bird survey, rare plant survey and geotechnical report have been finalized.
The next proposed meeting is scheduled for November 2009. Public engagement will follow once a draft plan is complete. The general public will be invited to learn more and comment through a few open house meetings. The CHPH community association will keep you informed of developments via The Broadcaster newsletter and this website.
