Thoughts on improving Nosehill?

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Why the desire to change it? It's a nice piece of undisturbed land in the city where you can enjoy nature, see deer, coyotes, porcupines, etc. There are enough splash parks, playgrounds in that general area already.

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 .

[Table 5]

I'm with you Sliver, I always thought Nosehill was the most over-rated piece of bald-ass prairie around. Never really understood why it was considered so special when it looks exactly like every undeveloped area in the province, but without anything nice to look at. If there was something to bulldoze, I'd bulldoze it.

We could start with planting about 10,000 trees. We might not enjoy it much, but maybe our kids would have something interesting.

[Kybosh]

I actually also prefer fish creek for the wide range of activities you can do there . I used to live right beside it before moving north. Nose Hill might be a bald-ass prairie park, but it's our bald-ass prairie park dammit!

To be honest, I think there must be a practical reason why Nose Hill was never developed. Hard to do construction up there or something? There must be a reason.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

I actually also prefer fish creek for the wide range of activities you can do there . I used to live right beside it before moving north. Nose Hill might be a bald-ass prairie park, but it's our bald-ass prairie park dammit!

To be honest, I think there must be a practical reason why Nose Hill was never developed. Hard to do construction up there or something? There must be a reason.

Well in about 1987 or 1988 there was this big "save Nosehill" campaign. I think people wanted to save it from becoming another subdivision, which was good. Unfortunately, they stopped shy of then making it into something nice. It looks EXACTLY like any abandoned lot in town.

Table5's idea to plant trees is actually a great idea. How pretty would that be in two or three decades.

I'm glad you've been to Fishcreek for the comparison to Nosehill, Kybosh. I was actually going to be a weird Internet guy and invite you to go for a bike ride at Fishcreek and then Nosehill tomorrow, but thankfully I don't have to go that far now haha.

[ricoFlame]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I'm with you Sliver, I always thought Nosehill was the most over-rated piece of bald-ass prairie around. Never really understood why it was considered so special when it looks exactly like every undeveloped area in the province, but without anything nice to look at. If there was something to bulldoze, I'd bulldoze it.

That says it all, and that's exactly why it's great.

...and adding a lake? good god.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by ricoFlame

That says it all, and that's exactly why it's great.

...and adding a lake? good god.

Do you know what "over rated" means? Your post implies you don't.

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Well in about 1987 or 1988 there was this big "save Nosehill" campaign. I think people wanted to save it from becoming another subdivision, which was good. Unfortunately, they stopped shy of then making it into something nice. It looks EXACTLY like any abandoned lot in town.

Table5's idea to plant trees is actually a great idea. How pretty would that be in two or three decades.

I'm glad you've been to Fishcreek for the comparison to Nosehill, Kybosh. I was actually going to be a weird Internet guy and invite you to go for a bike ride at Fishcreek and then Nosehill tomorrow, but thankfully I don't have to go that far now haha.

Yeah, I do go into both parks pretty regularly and they are just completely different from one another. If I'm looking for a nice place to take the dog or go for a mountain bike ride, I pick Nose Hill. If I want to have a picnic or go for a low impact bike ride, Fishcreek is the place to be.

I don't think Nose Hill is ugly either. Go for an early morning walk when the season is just starting to change from fall to winter and you'll see how Nose Hill is awesome.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

Yeah, I do go into both parks pretty regularly and they are just completely different from one another. If I'm looking for a nice place to take the dog or go for a mountain bike ride, I pick Nose Hill. If I want to have a picnic or go for a low impact bike ride, Fishcreek is the place to be.

I don't think Nose Hill is ugly either. Go for an early morning walk when the season is just starting to change from fall to winter and you'll see how Nose Hill is awesome.

Nosehill is awesome in the fall...I always intended to have some family photos done up there as the colours were changing with downtown in the background but never got around to it before defecting to the south.

You must concede, though, everywhere looks awesome in the fall so Nosehill just breaks even on that point.

[Regulator75]

Let's pave the mofo and build a new high density business and living centre.
It can be called Top of the city and only buildings of superior quality and design can be built.

700 feet would be the minimum height restriction too.. Hahaha

Our very own Hong Kong style skyline on Nose Hill...

[Max Cow Disease]

I'd be down for planting some more trees up there to spruce it up a bit (behold my pun). Otherwise, I'm pleased with simply keeping it the way it is. As others have mentioned, it's a good spot to go and wander around amidst a bit of "nothingness" in the middle of Calgary's suburban sprawl. I certainly wouldn't want to see any sort of structural developments start cropping up.

[octothorp]

I like Nosehill the way it is, but I'd be okay with them developing something really special up there. Something that could just as easily fit anywhere around the city (like a lake, some forested areas, splashpark, wedding facility, etc), would, in my opinion be a waste. Somethink like, say, LA's Getty Center, on the other hand, I would support because Nose Hill is the only place in Calgary where you could build such a thing. But anything short of that would get a thumbs down from me.

edit: and even then, only on the exposed, south-facing slope. Leave all the valleys and everything as is.

[KTrain]

I don't like the idea of a lake because once you build that there's no turning back. It's also an insane cost with little chance of return because of upkeep.

I do like the idea of horseback riding up there. It would be great for locals and visitors alike. I don't think there's anything else within the city where you can do it.

More trees never hurt anyone.

[flamesfever]

I think planting trees in what constitutes a natural grassland area may reduce the naturalness of the park and make it seem more man made.

[Bertuzzied]

Calgary's highest cell tower there would be pretty awesome.

[Bertuzzied]

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 .

You can keep your crappy SW to yourself. Have fun in gridlock traffic and NOT one good chinese restaurant until you hit Chinatown.

[habernac]

Why would you plant trees up there? The view is the best part of Nose Hill. There's nothing wrong with the park. It seems empty because it is so vast. Parking lot areas suggest otherwise.

Fish Creek and Nose Hill are two different areas with two entirely different ecosystems. Both are cool and should be left alone.

I talked recently to an 87 year old woman who's backyard was Nose Hill. They actually owned part of it. She played there in the 20's and 30's . Kinda cool.

[lifetimefan]

Coyote leg traps.

[drhu22]

I think they should make it higher.

[You Need a Thneed]

Six flags.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I'm with you Sliver, I always thought Nosehill was the most over-rated piece of bald-ass prairie around. Never really understood why it was considered so special when it looks exactly like every undeveloped area in the province, but without anything nice to look at. If there was something to bulldoze, I'd bulldoze it.

We could start with planting about 10,000 trees. We might not enjoy it much, but maybe our kids would have something interesting.

I don't know if anybody considers it as highly as you think. It's a wide-open expanse where you can do stuff outdoors. There are no other expectations of it. When you drive across Canada do you feel that the same about all of the forests and open spaces?