CALGARY, ALTA. — Three levels of government have pitched in to restore an urban refuge that was in desperate need of extensive upgrades.
The revitalization plan, known as the “Reconnection Project,” was a joint effort by federal, provincial and local governments to enhance the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary’s natural environment and repair vital habitats for the diverse wildlife that call the park home, explains a release.
Established in 1929, the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary is one of Canada’s oldest migratory bird sanctuaries and the only federally recognized urban sanctuary of its kind in the nation. The park’s network of waterways has suffered substantial damage from human use and Calgary’s 2013 flood. Consequently, the 100-year-old lagoon was cut off from the Bow River, impacting wildlife health and blocking fish passage.
Artist Tim Knowles worked closely with the project team of engineers, hydrologists and naturalists to help create a new channel that reconnects the affected bodies of water. As well as landscaping and habitat creation, the design also includes a multifunctional pedestrian crossing that harmonizes with the sanctuary’s environment, reads the release.
“The crossing is a hybrid structure: part bridge, part flood control mechanism, bird blind and log jam. The design incorporates native lumber sourced from the site where possible and includes a cantilever timber deck with benches and screened viewing areas for bird watching,” said Knowles.
In total, the $9.7 million project was funded by the City of Calgary, the Government of Alberta’s Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program and Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund.
Key project highlights include flood damage repair, erosion control, habitat restoration and ecological enhancements.
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