William Hawrelak Park
William Hawrelak Park | |
---|---|
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | |
Coordinates | 53°31′41″N 113°32′51″W / 53.52806°N 113.54750°W |
Area | 68 ha |
Created | 1954 |
Operated by | City of Edmonton |
Open | 05:00–23:00 |
Website | edmonton |
William Hawrelak Park (or simply Hawrelak Park) is a park in Edmonton, Alberta. Formerly known as Mayfair Park, it was initially going to be developed into a 500-lot subdivision; however, when the Strathcona Land Syndicate forfeited their taxes the city obtained the title for the land in 1922. This land lay unused until 1954, when Mayor William Hawrelak proposed to create a 350-acre (1.4 km2) riverside park in this area as it would “fit into the overall park development of the City along the lines of the zoo, and the golf courses and other picnic areas”.[1] The digging of the man-made lakes began in 1959 and later was completed in 1964 but had few facilities.[2] The official opening day of Mayfair Park was on Dominion Day, July 1, 1967. It was renamed in 1982 for Hawrelak, who died in office in 1975 while serving as mayor of Edmonton.
Amenities
The park is in
As with all City of Edmonton Parks, the park is open to the public 5 am–11 pm, 365 days a year. The park has walking–hiking trails around the perimeter which can be used for cross-country skiing in the winter. There are picnic sites, a playground, and beach volleyball nets on site. Many of the picnic sites feature fire pits.[3]
In 1983, the park was the track cycling venue for the 1983 Summer Universiade.
From 1998 until 2008, the park hosted the Bright Nights Festival around Christmas. Since 1990 the Silver Skate Festival has hosted the Annual Winter Festival of Arts, Culture Recreation and Sport. In 2016 the festival partnered with Ice Castles of America to bring the first ice castle in Canada, and it has called Hawrelak Park home every winter since.
Pavillions
The five on site pavilions were designed by Bittorf & Wensley architects and constructed in 1967-68 and 1973. The design style has been described as “West Coast Modernist” and “Organic Expressionist”.
According to ForgottenEdmonton: “these pavilions remain an iconic feature of its landscape over a half-century later. All five are currently considered for inclusion on the City’s Inventory of Historic Resources.”[4]
Heritage Amphitheatre
The Heritage Amphitheatre is
The inside area under the stage contains a
References
- ^ "River Valley West Central - Edmonton Historical Board". www.edmontonsarchitecturalheritage.ca. Retrieved 2019-04-05.
- ^ "River Valley West Central". Edmonton Historical Board. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
- ^ "Park Operations :: City of Edmonton". Retrieved April 11, 2017.
- ^ "The Hawrelak Park Pavilions". Archived from the original on October 22, 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Heritage Amphitheatre". City of Edmonton. Retrieved 2011-07-23.
- ^ a b "Heritage Amphitheatre 2013 User Guide" (PDF). City of Edmonton. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
- ^ "Indoor Shakespeare Festival Will Have Financial Implications". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 2014-07-23.