September, 2003	back to archives
Dear Residents:
Reference: Cougar Ridge Naturalized Park
This informational letter is provided to explain the nature and concept of the park within your community. Most of you may be aware that with the ever increasing pace of development we are losing our natural spaces. As well, water conservation is becoming an important aspect of park development and our daily lives.
“The slopes of Paskapoo are part of a magnificent escarpment crisscrossed with several ravines. It covers approximately 2.5 miles along the south side of the TransCanada Highway. This area is an incredibly beautiful landmark as the city is entered from the west. Much of the area is covered with Aspen glades and Balsam Poplar woodlands, and is a breathtaking sight when viewed from the villages of Bowness and Montgomery.”
“Much of Paskapoo Slopes has been studied by Calgary Parks and Recreation since 1991, and is considered to be environmentally significant. The features are all natural to the area and include ravines, gullies, streams, springs, glades of Aspen and Balsam Poplar, Dogwood and Riverine Tall Shrub. The slopes are part of the natural wildlife corridor. It is home to Deer, small mammals, Coyote, and a very large variety of migratory, and breeding, birds.” (excerpt from Paskapoo Slopes Preservation Society website www.paskapoo.com).
“Through the changing seasons, it (Paskapoo Slopes) remains a refreshing reminder of the natural world and a contrast to the concrete and hard structures that dominate so much of our daily lives.”(P.S.P.S. Newsletter October 2000)
Our intent is to recreate to the best of our ability what was the original landscape or a reasonable representation of what may have been considered the original landscape. We have replanted native trees and shrubs based on a restoration plan report prepared by our sub consultant and approved by the City of Calgary Parks and Recreation Department. This report was written to satisfy the City of Calgary’s Development Guidelines and Standard Specifications: Landscape Construction (2002).
Natural grasses, shrubs and trees have been planted throughout the park designated as Municipal Reserve (MR) and Environmental Reserve (ER) disturbed as part of the community development. Over the next few years prior to turning the park over to the City, the grasses will be mowed once or twice a year only to control weed development. The park will be watered by hand to encourage establishment of the grasses and plants.
Once we have satisfactorily established the park to City standards, the park will be turned over to the City for their care and maintenance as required. The park will not be watered and mowed by the City other than once or twice a year only.
We trust that the residents understand that this area is not intended to be a manicured park but a natural area and that you will encourage your fellow neighbors to promote the intent of the park.