Thoughts on improving Nosehill?

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by _Q_

True stroy:

My wife and I have been casually looking at buying a bigger home the last few months. One of our main criteria is being close to parks. Had our realtor suggest homes in the NW because they're close to Nosehill and we just LOLed and told the realtor that by close to parks, we meant close to nice parks like fish creek.

Needless to say, we're only looking at the south now. Nosehill is terrible.

Why not closer to Confederation Park then?

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Why not closer to Confederation Park then?

Confederation Park is OK. Doesn't compare to fish creek, South Glenmore Park or sandy beach, but it's decent.

[btimbit]

All these years later still one of my favourite posts on CP,

Originally Posted by Sliver

I lived in the northwest for ~25 years (grew up in Dalhousie right by Nosehill) and moved to Bonavista three years ago. Being close to lakes and Fishcreek Park (with great paths, a lake, a bakery, The Ranch restaurant), and other amenities made me realize just how void of anything good the NW actually is. I'm like a guy that escaped from North Korea to the South and now I'm fighting for my people back home in the North. But just like the North Koreans, you don't know that there is more to life out there for you so you are balking at the suggestion of change and improvement. I suppose Lil Kim has already won this war .

[delayedreflex]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I wish they would just plant like 20,000 trees in the place. Coyotes like shade too.

Free labor if you can make it some sort of school field-trip program.

There's a sign somewhere on Nosehill that talks about how it will actually eventually be entirely covered in forest. If I remember correctly, it was grassland back when there were bison grazing on it and there were fires, etc. but now that it is a controlled and enclosed ecosystem, the trees will have nothing to keep them in check. The aspen groves on Nosehill have expanded pretty substantially over the past 30+ years - I think it's actually kinda cool to see the landscape evolve naturally like it has.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I stand by my statement.

Yeah, but you’re from Edmonton aren’t you? Your statement is reflective of that. We were in Edmonton unfortunately for 3 days and for that poor decision received over $6,000 of theft / damage to our vehicle.

Fuzz is bang on the money here with his statement. And Nose Hill is like the Edmonton equivalent compared to Fish Creek (like Calgary, just objectively better). I’m not sure what Nose Hill has against trees or why we decided acres of grass in the middle of the city made sense while we sprawl endlessly. Sliver’s assessment of Nose Hill is 110% correct.

[Fuzz]

Spoiler!

No one decided to make it grass, it's always been grassland. Here it is in 1948, when it was farm land. Then they used it for a rock quarry, which made a real mess of it, and was never cleared up properly. The trees are a relatively new feature. Much of it was farmland up until the late 60's. Most of the trees on the west area didn't appear until the early 80's.


But some strategic planting of native species might be a good idea, make some more groves, leave some grassland...

[Sliver]

Is that a picture of the moon through a pinhole camera?

[Fuzz]

https://maps.calgary.ca/CalgaryImagery/


Air photo from 1948. I don't think they had DSLR's back then.

[Misterpants]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Spoiler!

No one decided to make it grass, it's always been grassland. Here it is in 1948, when it was farm land. Then they used it for a rock quarry, which made a real mess of it, and was never cleared up properly. The trees are a relatively new feature. Much of it was farmland up until the late 60's. Most of the trees on the west area didn't appear until the early 80's.


But some strategic planting of native species might be a good idea, make some more groves, leave some grassland...

That's hilarious, I was always under the impression it was some lovingly preserved natural grassland featuring native species that were elsewhere disappearing and that's why we have staunchly protected it from development. So it was some crummy farmers field and then a gravel pit? Lol.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Misterpants

That's hilarious, I was always under the impression it was some lovingly preserved natural grassland featuring native species that were elsewhere disappearing and that's why we have staunchly protected it from development. So it was some crummy farmers field and then a gravel pit? Lol.

Just when you think that giant zit in the middle of the NW can't get any nastier, you can always learn a little tidbit that makes it even worse.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Yeah, but you’re from Edmonton aren’t you? Your statement is reflective of that. We were in Edmonton unfortunately for 3 days and for that poor decision received over $6,000 of theft / damage to our vehicle.

Fuzz is bang on the money here with his statement. And Nose Hill is like the Edmonton equivalent compared to Fish Creek (like Calgary, just objectively better). I’m not sure what Nose Hill has against trees or why we decided acres of grass in the middle of the city made sense while we sprawl endlessly. Sliver’s assessment of Nose Hill is 110% correct.

I am not from Edmonton. Combined 24 months for university is all the time I have been there.

[Fuzz]

I'm always amused at the things we try to protect, as if they had been around forever, and everyone just assumes that is the case. Like Princes island - don't you dare disturb the wetland on the east side!- which has only been around for maybe 50 years, or the Weaslehead, which was made from damming Glenmore. Hell, Fish Creek used to be a munitions test range. They are all ecosystems now, and I'm not saying to not protect them, but the reality is we also made them in the first place.

[Misterpants]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Just when you think that giant zit in the middle of the NW can't get any nastier, you can always learn a little tidbit that makes it even worse.

It's the equivalent of that clear plastic sticker that covers a shiny part on a new piece of electronics. You thought about taking it off but kept it on to preserve the gadget but now years later it is all crinkled and peeling up with dust and pubes stuck to the sticker part.

[The Yen Man]

All these years later, and I'm still on side of Sliver in regards to Nosehill. It just feels like such a waste of so much potential to just leave it as. It could be Calgary's version of Stanley park if done right. Right now, it's just an ugly piece of unkept farmland with an amazing downtown view that people take their dogs to. I would be in total favour of public money going towards serious renos of it.

[Ahuch]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

All these years later, and I'm still on side of Sliver in regards to Nosehill. It just feels like such a waste of so much potential to just leave it as. It could be Calgary's version of Stanley park if done right. Right now, it's just an ugly piece of unkept farmland with an amazing downtown view that people take their dogs to. I would be in total favour of public money going towards serious renos of it.

Stanley park is downtown and with a ton of oceanfront... Nosehill is bounded by freeways. I'm not sure how to fix it, it's kind of awkward in its current state but at least it's some outdoor space and not houses I guess.

[CaptainYooh]

I totally believe that our City Parks Department people just love saying "we have the largest urban park in North America" and they don't have to do anything about it. 100% in agreement with "this is a total wasteland" opinions. No trees to clean the air, no natural or man-made features for public use and enjoyment, no scenery to photograph. Nothing but dusty dirt and grass. My son just moved to Beddington, so I stopped by Nose Hill for the first time in some 33 years. I've missed nothing.

[djsFlames]

An outdoor amphitheater overlooking downtown that could host festivals would be pretty awesome.

Currently people only flock north to the decrepit McMahon for any big events.

Loads of trees and a playground would also be good on the northern side to give it the park feel. Of course leave the hill face untouched for views.

Rode through there last summer and while it's expansive its also boring and dead. The non paved paths aren't great either.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

An outdoor amphitheater overlooking downtown that could host festivals would be pretty awesome.

Currently people only flock north to the decrepit McMahon for any big events.

Loads of trees and a playground would also be good on the northern side to give it the park feel. Of course leave the hill face untouched for views.

Rode through there last summer and while it's expansive its also boring and dead. The non paved paths aren't great either.

There are loads of excellent trails for biking if you know where to look. I get that you wouldn't catch that on one trip through, it took me years to string together some great loops. It really is a great asset to have for those of us that can ride without needing to drive. I can be at the top in 20 minutes, and have a great hour up there. I know it isn't the mountains, but it also isn't an hour away.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

There are loads of excellent trails for biking if you know where to look. I get that you wouldn't catch that on one trip through, it took me years to string together some great loops. It really is a great asset to have for those of us that can ride without needing to drive. I can be at the top in 20 minutes, and have a great hour up there. I know it isn't the mountains, but it also isn't an hour away.

It has some nice dips and slopes for an interesting bike ride, for sure. I did find the seemingly random network of trails to not make much sense on my one trip through.

Splits off at so many points that I got lost briefly but essentially did one big loop. I liked the southern swing but the rest was confusing and the lack of any landmark made it tough to track your location in relation to everything else.

I really feel that they could plant trees in specific areas and pave a few more paths to "organize" the park in a way that makes sense and makes it more pleasing for visitors.

[EVERLAST]

I still think we should go with the release of 4 tigers up there to keep it interesting.
It would be like Winnie the pooh.....you'll be walking along and get pounced on WHAMO!!!

But.....in all seriousness I love nose hill Park.
I pick sage yearly at the park and gift it to friends.