Thoughts on improving Nosehill?

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by valo403

It seems that you've decided certain forms of nature are just to boring to keep around, and that quite frankly is quite a sad statement.

Yes that's clearly it. I can't appreciate variety in nature, want to put a fire to everything I don't like, and want all the grasslands on earth to be wiped out. You know me so well!

[Addick]

Even though I much prefer Urban Parks with their landscaping, manicured lawns, and numerous added-amenities (e.g. Hyde Park, Clapham Common, Englischer Garten, and Central Park), I recognize the role and importance of Urban Reserves (i.e Fish Creek and Nosehill Park). The very point of these parks are to reserve sections in urban areas for natural environments. The addition of man-made amenities runs counter to this point as it adds unnatural elements into what is suppose to be reserve for a natural environment.

If you want to enjoy splash parks and other sorts of man-made amenities your plan of action should be straightforward and simple; go to an urban park rather than an urban reserve. We cannot and should not expect Nosehill Park to cater to every demographic as in order to successfully play its intended role, it has to limit what it can offer (i.e. a natural environment). Speaking as someone who loves Urban Parks, every park does not have to be the same and we should not expect every park to have everything. Instead our expectation should be for the Parks and Recreation department to create a portfolio of parks, both Urban Parks and Urban Reserves, that can collectively provides us with all of our parking desires.

In terms of natural environment, I see Nosehill Park as more of an Urban Preserve than Reserve. It is not just reserving an area of Northwest Calgary for a natural environment but preserving an area of Northwest Calgary in its rare natural state. Just like how adding man-made amenities to an Urban Reserve would be counter-productive, so too would be adding non-natural grassland plants to Nosehill Park.

Essentially, love it or leave it.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I guess we'll agree to disagree. I don't see any benefit of the thing.

To me, for a city park, Golden Gate Park is impressive. Stanley Park is impressive. Hyde park is impressive. Fish Creek and Glenmore are impressive too, and they are in the city too. Nose Hill park to me is about as exciting as the stucco'd suburban neighborhoods that surround it.



What's wrong with waterparks? Kids love that stuff.

Btw, I'm not saying it has to be in Nosehill....that was just a general comment.

Riley Park is just south of there. There is another waterpark in Panorama. There is probably even something in Confederation Park (though I have checked).

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Riley Park is just south of there. There is another waterpark in Panorama. There is probably even something in Confederation Park (though I have checked).

nope

South glenmore has one, and I can't recall any other south ones..

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

nope

South glenmore has one, and I can't recall any other south ones..

Eau Claire, at least.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Eau Claire, at least.

Wading pools

The listed wading pools are run by The City. For community wading pools, please contact the Community Association directly. Wading pools operated by The City are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

• Eau Claire Plaza - 3 St. & Riverfront Ave. S.W.
• Prairie Winds Park - 223 Castleridge Blvd. N.E.
• Riley Park - 800 12 St. N.W.

Spray parks

The listed spray parks are run by The City. For community spray parks, please contact the Community Association directly. Spray parks operated by The City are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

• Bowness Park - 8900 48 Ave. N.W. - CLOSED for Bowness Park construction
• Canmore Park - 19 St. & Chicoutimi Dr. N.W.
• Eau Claire Plaza - 3 St. & Riverfront Ave. S.W.
• Prairie Winds Park - 223 Castleridge Blvd. N.E.
• Rotary Park - 617 1 St. N.E.
• South Glenmore Park (Variety Park) - 90 Ave. & 24 St. S.W.
• Valleyview Park - 28 St. & 30 Ave. S.E.

Outdoor pools in Calgary


Hours of operation vary by location and may be affected by inclement weather. Please contact the individual pools for more information on operating hours.

• Bowview Outdoor Pool- 1910 6 Ave. N.W.
• Forest Lawn Outdoor Pool- 1706 39 St. S.E
• Highwood Outdoor Pool - 25 Holmwood Ave. N.W.
• Millican-Ogden Outdoor Pool - 69 Ave. & 20A St. S.E.
• Mount Pleasant Outdoor Pool - 2310 6 St. N.W.
• Silver Springs Outdoor Pool - Silverridge Cl. & Silverridge Dr. N.W
• South Calgary Outdoor Pool - 3130 16 St. S.W.
• Stanley Park Outdoor Pool - 4011 1A St. S.W.

http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/Pag...oor-pools.aspx


Thanks

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I guess we'll agree to disagree. I don't see any benefit of the thing.

To me, for a city park, Golden Gate Park is impressive. Stanley Park is impressive. Hyde park is impressive. Fish Creek and Glenmore are impressive too, and they are in the city too. Nose Hill park to me is about as exciting as the stucco'd suburban neighborhoods that surround it.

I'm with you that Nose Hill Park isn't particularly impressive, but trying to compare Nose Hill to those parks is the wrong approach, IMO. Let's compare apples to apples. Using San Francisco as an example, Nose Hill Park is more the equivalent of Twin Peaks than Golden Gate Park: a mostly treeless, largely undeveloped lookout point towards one side of the city but still surrounded by the city, which provides excellent views, some walking paths, and an example of a relatively natural hilltop. Nose Hill just happens to be absolutely massive compared to Twin Peaks.

I love Golden Gate Park. I was hanging out there last week. And you'll never get a park like that in Calgary for a lot of obvious reasons. But the Bow pathway area is impressive and serves a similar purpose: as a connected, pedestrian-friendly cluster of attractions and park areas, both natural and developed. I'd rather that the city continue to develop that area as its high-use, attraction-centric park area, rather than attempt to duplicate that functionality out on Nose Hill.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Yes that's clearly it. I can't appreciate variety in nature, want to put a fire to everything I don't like, and want all the grasslands on earth to be wiped out. You know me so well!

You kinda come across that way when you say that a natural park does not have any benefit at all.

[Table 5]

Yeah, I can agree with that Octothorp. Comparing urban parks with natural ones is not necessarily the best approach. I just think even when you do that, Nose Hill comes out short. I'm all for keeping nature natural, but I do think some type of nature is just more pleasing to be around in than others. It's the same reason why people love baby seals and cute kittens, but step on a spider when they see one.

If people enjoy Nose Hill, great. I'm personally not one of those people, but hey, that's why I have Fish Creek and Glenmore!

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by zamler

You kinda come across that way when you say that a natural park does not have any benefit at all.

Show me where I said that natural parks have no benefit at all.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Show me where I said that natural parks have no benefit at all.

Originally Posted by Table 5

I don't see any benefit of the thing.

And of course you called it the "skidmark in the underpants of natural sites" So maybe you vehemently just hate Nose Hill park?

[Table 5]

I dislike Nose Hill, not all natural parks. Bit of a difference in turning it into a sweeping generalization.

Oh and it's not vehemently by any means. If there was a chance to make it better, I'd be for it....but I'm also fine with leaving it be if people enjoy it, as lots of people do.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I personally love the views and the different 'feel' that Nosehill gives you over Fishcreek or other parks. It is unique. I used to take my dog out there regularly, and loved it. I went for runs regularly. I live nowhere close to that park, but found myself driving there fairly regularly just to enjoy the 'openness' that you don't get at most other parks.

The only thing I would change in that park is to get some experts and incorporate more flora into the park that perhaps is missing from a typical hilltop prairie landscape - but NOT many trees (ruins the views and the 'openness' too much). However, I enjoy it the way it is because it is different and open.

I don't find it underutilized at all - it just isn't a crowded park. That is what I like about it. Good place to just go for a long peaceful walk and think.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

Whatever crappy SW neighborhood Sliver lives in. hehehe

Sliver lives in the best community in Calgary, hands down. You northies just wouldn't understand.

[Wormius]

I don't really like the idea of Nosehill being this guinea pig. I suggest a CP jihad to lobby Australia to get them ot make similar "improvements" to Ayers Rock before we try any here. Maybe carve steps all around it so it looks more like a pyramid, and easily accessible to people wanting to climb it.

[puckluck2]

To answer the OP.

Burn it to the ground. O wait, looks like someone already did.

[JD]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I don't really like the idea of Nosehill being this guinea pig. I suggest a CP jihad to lobby Australia to get them ot make similar "improvements" to Ayers Rock before we try any here. Maybe carve steps all around it so it looks more like a pyramid, and easily accessible to people wanting to climb it.

And a water park! At least the weather there would make it somewhat feasible...

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Yes that's clearly it. I can't appreciate variety in nature, want to put a fire to everything I don't like, and want all the grasslands on earth to be wiped out. You know me so well!

Well that's pretty much what you said. If you don't want people to come to that conclusion perhaps consider turning down the hyperbole in your posts.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Sliver lives in the best community in Calgary, hands down. You northies just wouldn't understand.

If he isn't living in Upper Scarboro then yes I wouldn't understand.

I can't hear what you are saying with an awesome peking duck leg in one ear from Edgemont City, and a bowl of crunchy beef pho from Pho Thanh in my other ear. What?? what??

[North East Goon]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

If he isn't living in Upper Scarboro then yes I wouldn't understand.

I can't hear what you are saying with an awesome peking duck leg in one ear from Edgemont City, and a bowl of crunchy beef pho from Pho Thanh in my other ear. What?? what??

you do realize there is vietnamese restaurants on every street corner in every quadrant of this city.