Development of Louise McKinney Park has created a recreational and cultural legacy for the City of Edmonton. The scope of work included a review of the previously prepared Master Plan, and implementation of a series projects from 2000 to date. These include detailed development of the World Walk, River Promenade, the Chinese Garden, Millennium Plaza, and Riverfront Plaza. Carlyle + Asociates has been responsible for the design of the furnishings and the plazas and promenades. DIALOG designed the stage canopy structure.
The overall design approach for the park is one expressing the complementing and contrasting orders of the city and the valley by overlaying them on this site. The historic alignments of city streets and the lotting pattern (the settlement pattern of seigneural river lots) are extended over the picturesque character of the river valley landscape of the park site.
Pavilions and structures are sited over the park landscape at the intersection of primary routes of the World Walk and River Promenade as well down the alignment of the main entrance access to the river through Louise McKinney Plaza and Riverfront Plaza, complementing the open lawns and river valley slopes. They incorporate a variety of functions, from shading, interpretation and art, as well as the potential for services such as performances, washrooms and eating facilities. Site furnishings, including lighting and seating have been designed specifically for this park.
