The Bow River is one of Calgary's most treasured natural resources. Few cities in the world can boast that a pristine river flows through a metropolis of more than a million occupants. As the city continues to expand outwards and densify within, maintaining water quality in the Bow River, while providing recreational opportunities within the river valley, have become two of the City of Calgary's top environmental priorities.
The City of Calgary retained 02 Planning + Design (02), AECOM and Watershed+ to develop a design development plan for a recently acquired brownfield industrial site - a former gravel quarry - in the heart of Calgary's Bow River Valley. The requirements for the plan were to combine a stormwater treatment complex with a natural park for the public to enjoy. Through a collaborative effort, the project team developed a plan to implement a groundbreaking stormwater quality retrofit that employs numerous water-based landscapes and artworks. The installation will treat considerable volumes of stormwater, while simultaneously illustrating the journey of the water cleansing process from storm sewer inlet to Bow River outlet, within an engaging park environment.
