The City of Calgary’s Haskayne Legacy Park, which borders Glenmore Ranch Provincial Park in the city’s northwest, has been a focal point for recreational river and reservoir access for some time. Calgary River Users Alliance (CRUA) has petitioned the city administration and Councilors to designate a public river access site at the park to enhance outdoor pursuits at the Bearspaw Reservoir and improve Bow River recreational opportunities downstream of Cochrane. Unfortunately, a long-standing agreement between the City of Calgary, Rockyview County, and Transalta, the reservoir operator has blocked access to the reservoir through the Haskayne Legacy Park.
This became a contentious issue recently when a local business leader took it upon himself to develop the Bearspaw Marina which opened with public access across the park’s property. Opposition to the development came from the City of Calgary and Transalta.
CRUA’s position has been that public access through Calgary’s Haskayne Legacy Park to the Bearspaw Reservoir is an essential part of the development of outdoor pursuits for its residents. However, the opportunity to add to the Calgary River Access Strategy appears to have been missed in favor of ecological and human heritage in the area. The River Access Strategy approved by the Calgary City Council in 2017 considered the Haskayne Legacy Park as a suitable site for future river access development.
Although the City of Calgary has shown concern for the protection of Bearspaw Reservoir and the city’s water supply, it is unlikely that a river-reservoir access site will have any increase in the impact on water quality. There are also concerns about vehicle access across the CP rail to the reservoir where a staging area and boat ramp would be built.
Neither of these concerns are insurmountable, but there is a need for open dialogue between the City of Calgary and river-reservoir recreation users to address these issues. It is evident that public engagement is needed to define an expanded Haskayne Legacy Park development strategy.