Plans for paid parking lot at Calgary’s Edworthy Park not moving ahead

Planned upgrades for a parking lot at a Calgary park that weren’t sitting right with many residents will not be moving ahead.

The parking lot in question, along a bike path near the Bow River on the north side of Edworthy Park is currently a bumpy ride, to say the least. The lot is full of potholes, loose gravel, and no lines to indicate where people can leave their vehicles.

The land at the end of Shaganappi Trail NW recently went from being under the city’s Parks Department to its mobility unit, which includes Calgary Parking. A recent planned proposal to upgrade it included a pay machine.

Under the proposal, people would be able to park for free for up to two hours, but a dollar an hour fee would in place for anyone planning to stay longer.

“People were just outraged that there is an extra fee to use a park,” says Ward 1 Coun. Sonya Sharp. “When I first heard that people were going to have to pay for this, I shook my head.”

“We charge enough in property taxes, people should be able to use the park.”

City planners said requiring park goers to pay a modest amount after two hours of free parking would help recoup the cost of upgrades to the lot, which were to include resurfacing, improving drainage, adding new lighting and electric vehicle chargers.

The upgrades were expected to cost around $1 million.

Sharp says the city should instead use the city’s maintenance programs to target areas of high demand, like the Edworthy parking lot.

“Charging them extra was not something that should have been on the table,” she says. “We confirmed this morning with administration, through a memo that they were sending out, people will be able to use the park without paying.”

Sharp says the city putting on the brakes is a great example of what can happen when residents have their say.

“Those people that say you can’t fight City Hall, I would say ‘yes you can,'” she says. “This is what you get when you win.”