Currently the park at Jasper Avenue and 100 Street is owned by a private developer that plans to build a tower on this site. The City of Edmonton has expressed interest in purchasing the parcel of land located at Jasper Avenue and 100 Street and making it a public park. Please show your support for City Council to move forward with this land acquisition to retain one of Edmonton's beautiful pocket parks.
We the undersigned support the Downtown Lands Acquisition project, which involves the purchase of land at Jasper Avenue and 100 Street. This land is owned by a private developer who has expressed an interest in constructing a tower on the site. Currently, the land is being used as a private park that if purchased and preserved by the City of Edmonton (City) as a public park would align with the City’s “Capital City Downtown Plan (CCDP),” specifically two of the City’s 10-Year Goals: Improving Edmonton’s Livability and Transforming Edmonton’s Urban Form.
This is a wonderful area in the centre of our city and a relaxing green space for the residents and workers in the area. By preserving this park, the City will retain an important asset that frames one of the City’s most prominent landmark buildings, the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald. Pocket parks such as this are an important part of what makes a city appealing, and this park is one of the few open spaces that directly face Jasper Avenue making it unique in the heart of downtown.
We cannot make the claim of being a green community while allowing valuable park space in the city core to disappear. Urban parks contribute to the development of cohesive and vibrant communities. Parks help foster a connection between citizens and the natural environment while providing an area for socialization, recreation and relaxation.
As stated in the City of Edmonton’s 2012-2014 Proposed Capital Projects Profiles, “Currently the Administration is negotiating with the property owner in anticipation of a successful outcome and retention of the open space.” We commend the City on realizing the importance of this park and support the protection of this green space as it fits within many of the City of Edmonton’s priorities: community engagement, downtown revitalization, mixed urban design and downtown livability. Preserving this space as park would show vision, leadership and a commitment to Edmonton’s green spaces as integral components of its urban design.
Thank you for taking the time to read our letter. This is an important issue for our community and we hope you can help us voice our concern and support for what is a very important decision regarding Edmonton’s downtown core.
