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Haultain
Park Enhancement Project
November 29, 2006 marked the celebration of the completion of
Phase One in the Haultain Park Restoration Project. Parks Foundation,
Calgary held a commemorative event to show off the improvements
surrounding their offices in the old Haultain School building.
Phase One improvements included an upgraded pathway and lighting
system and the addition of several new benches and trash cans,
and wrought iron fencing to be installed this winter, all on
the west end of the park. Phase Two of the project, which encompasses
the east side of the park, will commence upon completion of
the underground parkade currently being built for the Union
Square mixed use project. The parkade will extend underneath
Phase Two of Haultain Park, which includes a new playground
and a mini soccer field.
Click the link to the right to view a complete plan of the park
improvements.
Background
In addition to the great need for quality greenspace in the
inner city, this project is unique in its historical significance.
Calgarians now realize the importance of preserving our cherished
historic sites, and this jewel is worthy of restoration and
rejuvenation. The school and park is named for the Honourable
Sir Frederick William Alpin Gordon Haultain (1857-1942). Sir
Frederick Haultain was among the most active politicians in
the fight to create the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.
The Haultain School & Park restoration project will revitalize
a major inner city recreational park, and restore one of Calgary's
landmarks, the Haultain School. Groundbreaking was commenced
in May 2006.
In 2002 the City of Calgary finalized a low-cost long-term lease
to the Parks Foundation, Calgary allowing them to use the facility
as its headquarters in exchange for raising the capital needed
to restore the historic site. In partnership with the City,
the Foundation will restore the site under historic facility
guidelines.
In January 2003 the Haultain School became the official home
of the Parks Foundation, Calgary, and in May 2004 they received
an order designating the Haultain School as a Provincial Historic
Resource.
The interior restoration of the school is complete and fully
funded. Thanks to the generosity of an individual donor the
Foundation spent more than $300,000 to restore the interior
of the structure.
The park is located between 13th and 14th Avenues, and 1st and
2nd Streets SW and compromises 2.4 acres of the original school
grounds. The projected cost to revitalize Haultain Park is $1,725,000.
The Foundation's commitment to historical projects in combination
with surrounding parkland revitalization has already been demonstrated
through their role in the development of Rouleauville Square
and Lougheed House. Thus, Haultain School & Park is a fitting
project for the Foundation to undertake.
The school and surrounding parkland are in an inner city neighbourhood
that is currently in the process of revitalization. There is
a renewed focus on people moving to and living in urban, inner
city areas. The City of Calgary is expecting the population
of the Beltline Community to double in the next 10 to 15 years.
There is a definite need to provide high quality open spaces
in these areas where space itself is at a premium. As part of
a broader urban agenda, investing in open space can serve as
an anchor for revitalizing neighbourhoods and building healthy
communities.
Haultain Park is a green oasis amid one of the highest population
densities in the City. This 110-year-old park will receive a
bigger, better playground, improved tennis courts, a new multi-use
sport court, mini soccer field, upgraded landscaping, winding
pathways, and enhanced lighting. A "livable" community
is what the Parks Foundation, Calgary hopes to achieve as a
result of the Haultain School & Park Restoration.
Rezoning and development permits are now in place for the Union
Square project, which will back onto the park, taking the entire
First Street SW frontage, and construction commenced in Fall
2006. Careful considerations have been made to ensure that the
proper interface exists between the development and the Park,
in keeping with the Parks Foundation's efforts to increase public
safety in the Park.
See develop for information
about the Union Square project.
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REVITALIZE
