McKinnon Ravine in Edmontons River Valley: Part I What Is Visible (July 6, 2024)
More than can meet the eye!
We respectfully acknowledge that the traditional land on which we reside is in Treaty Six Territory. We would like to thank the diverse Indigenous Peoples whose ancestors’ footsteps have marked this territory for centuries, such as nêhiyaw (Nay-hee-yow) / Cree, Dene (Deh-neyh), Anishinaabe (Ah-nish-in-ah-bay) / Saulteaux (So-toe), Nakota Isga (Na-koh-tah ee-ska) / Nakota Sioux (Na-koh-tah sue), and Niitsitapi (Nit-si-tahp-ee) / Blackfoot peoples. We also acknowledge this as the Métis’ (May-tee) homeland and the home of one of the largest communities of Inuit south of the 60th parallel. It is a welcoming place for all peoples who come from around the world to share Edmonton as a home. Together we call upon all of our collective, honoured traditions and spirits to work in building a great city for today and future generations. (Source: City of Edmonton Office of Indigenous Relations)
Vlog Overview
My vlog series is a collection of practice and research reflections. My practice included 32+ years of parks and urban planning experience combined with my Phd dissertation (2019). That research focussed on park land decision-making processes in Edmonton, Alberta, using institutional theory. My practice was engaged in municipal processes that included park lands identification, park land assembly, zoning, funding, construction, programming and maintenance.
I seek to provide a balanced perspective, but I do offer strong opinions/biases on the importance and values of parks recreational and leisure benefits and outcomes sourced from both my practice and literature. As a life long learner, I continue my learning journey as a board volunteer with the North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society and the Canadian Institute of Planners.
This next series of tour vlogs will focus on the complexity of parks decision-making that impact parks directly or indirectly, in seen and unseen ways, and the implications of those factors on the decision-making process itself.
If you are an historical nerd, an urban planning nerd, or a park nerd, or combination thereof, my tour site vlogs may be of interest to you!
Todays Ice Sculpture: MacKinnon Ravine in Edmontons River Valley
The park was named after Edmonton Liberal member of Parliament and Cabinet minister James Angus MacKinnon. He was an elected representative of Edmonton from 1935 to 1949, then was appointed to the senate. He died in office in 1958. While in elected office, he held multiple cabinet posts. He received an honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Alberta in 1948.
1.0 What Is Visible…
1.1 MacKinnon Ravine Park
Mackinnon Ravine is an irregularly shaped ravine that extends from Government House Park and Groat Road in the east to approximately 149 Street. MacKinnon Ravine width varies between 800 and 1,600 metres (between half a mile and a mile), with walls of about 60 metres (200 feet) in height, in places forming “unclimbable cliffs. Glenora and Grovenor neighborhoods are immediately to the north and Crestwood to the South. Glenora and Grovenor communities are affluent communities; this is less true of Crestwood.
1.2 Geomorphology
Edmonton lies in Alberta's Parkland Natural Region, an area characterized by forested river valley and ravine slopes, deciduous woodlands, small lakes and wetlands, and remnant grassland, sand dune, and peatland habitats. The bedrock underlying the surficial deposits at Dawson Park and Kinnaird Ravine consists of the Upper Cretaceous, Horseshoe Canyon Formation. The Horseshoe Canyon Formation consists of deltaic and fluvial deposits of interbedded and interlensed fresh and brackish water sandstone, siltstone and shale. The soils and treed areas are permeable surfaces that collect rain and moisture that ultimately feed into the river either overland or through the ground water table. All of this literally lays below your feet. Somebody should write a book called that…
1.3 Constructed Amenities
McKinnon Ravine Park amenities are limited, including only a 3m wide multi-use trail and periodically benches and picnic tables for rest and relaxation. The trail through here is part of both the regional and Trans Canada trail network. The rest of these permeable surfaces are manicured grasses, bushes and trees.
1.4 Program and Activities
We are fortunate today that MacKinnon Ravine has been retained as an unstructured passive and active recreation area. The trail is part of the Trans-Canada network and the regional River Valley Alliance Plan of Action trail network. he trails are shared use pathways designed to accommodate walkers, cyclists, strollers, etc for high and low intensity recreational activity. The 3 metre wide paved multi-use shared use trail acts as a primary spine trail for the river valley park system, part of both the Trans Canada Trail network and the regional trail network. Trails provide physical activity for joggers, bikers or walkers. The trail has been part of the route of the Edmonton Marathon and Half Marathons. The grassy treed areas on either side of the trail provide opportunities for relaxation, suntanning, socializing, picnicking, small scale family or friends gathering, skiing, goose hissing contests, etc. Government Hill House Park on the east end provides parking and washrooms.
Homeless encampments have occurred in the area as well. The Province has stepped away from their historical responsibility for housing and wrap around services for low income and homeless populations. This exacerbates the development of durable solutions that for broader issues and concerns whose symptoms are sometimes resident in this park.
Please join me for a description of not of obvious things that impact Mackinnon Ravine - Part II Hiding in Plain Sight, specifically contestations - followed by concluding remarks.