New boat launches, docks and funicular planned for Edmonton river valley

The City of Edmonton is floating plans to make the North Saskatchewan River more accessible for everyone not just boaters.

Open houses will beheld this weekfor two city projects aimed at getting Edmontonians into the river valley and onto the water.

First, the city will moveforward with plans to build a funicular into the valley, said RobMarchak, the city's director of strategic projects.

Marchak said funding is already in place for the project, but the city still wants publicinput on design and location.

The second plan in the works could see more docks and boat launches added along the banks of the North Saskatchewan River.

Currently, the city has two official vehicle-accessible boat launches, and several other areas where roads thatrun near the water are used as "informal" launches,Marchaksaid.

In total, the project would see seven docks built or refurbished, as well as two hand launches and one vehicle launch added in current park facilities:

• Whitemud Park:dock and hand launch
• Laurier/Buena Vista Park: dock
• William Hawrelak Par:dock
• Emily Murphy Park:dock and hand launch
• Rossdale:dock
• Dawson Park:dock
• 50th Street:dock and refurbishment of existing vehicle launch

The docks would not just be for the boaters, he said.

"It's also about other users, too, using the docks and launches," he said. "We were quite surprised as we went forward as to how many people were actually interested in using these and didn't come with boats."

As a result, considerations will also be given to people who simply want to walk on the docks, get close to the water, go fishing or meditate.

"This is an opportunity about creating more of those connections and that access for all people," he said.

"The whole program within the city is actually about creating the network of having a series of different destinations down the river."

In the future, the city will lookat adding or improving basic amenities including washrooms at some dock sites.

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Expanding river valley network

The plans will help forge a larger and stronger river valley network, said Larry Wall, executive director with the River Valley Alliance, which has paired with the city in the project.

"One of the things we forget is, the river actually represents our main transportation corridor not just the trails that most of us would use," Wall said.

Adding more docks and launches along the North Saskatchewan through Edmonton would give water-users options for places to stop over in the city, he said.

The proposed docks could serve as connectors between other launches already built in Fort Saskatchewan and Devon for longer-distance users.

"This is really bringing the quality of life experience," he said.

Two open houses have been scheduled at City Hall:

• Mechanized access:from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8
• Boats and Dock Launches: from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 9

The city has also posted an online poll to collect opinions on both plans. It will remain active until April 26.

Construction on the new docks is planned for 2016.