Calgary Parklands - Bowmont and Dale Hodges Parks

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Twelve enthusiastic walkers made our way through residential streets in Montgomery to Bowmont Park . The beauty of the Bow River valley immediately engaged our senses as we climbed slightly to a constructed view point. Walking around a bend in the river, we could see Canada Olympic Park, drab without its snow. The river, on the other hand, was dressed in snow that covered the banks, islets and ice islands in the meandering shapes at this low point in its flow.

Within Bowmont Park, Dale Hodges Park is a storm-water treatment area. A collaboration of engineers, artists, and ecologists created this award-winning natural facility with no walls nor machinery. Coming upon it at the downstream end, we gazed in wonder at the “polishing marshes”, where bulrushes and grasses thrived in shallow water and precipitated dirt particles from the stormwater drains of northwest Calgary. The pathway continued along and over the stream that guided water through the park. Further upstream we were enchanted by the “Nautilus Pond ”, a large circular water-flushing pond, beloved by mallards, which in this season were preening and courting, oblivious to human onlookers.

After extending our walk along the Greenway (which encircles the city), we shared a laugh with unknown pranksters (now authorized) who affixed spurious historical signs on green park benches, such as, “This bench marks the site of the first confirmed UFO landing in Calgary 1963.”

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Photos

Viewing platform, Bowmont Park
Good place to tighten laces

Pathway Bridge to Bowness Park
Walked on other days

Canada Olympic Park
Artificial snow contrasts with reality

Edge of Dale Hodges Park
Bow River appearing tame

Canada geese
Lookouts making use of an osprey nesting platform

Polishing marsh in Dale Hodges Park
Slow flow through bullrushes and grasses

Polishing marsh
Constructed pads to encourage growth of plant life

Walkway across the marsh
Natural water treatment for storm sewer run-off

Blown bullrushes
Seeding the next generation

Popular walking destination
Dale Hodges Park, Nautilus Pond

Nautilus Pond
Due to the spiral shape, debris gradually settles to bottom.

Mallards having fun
Nautilus pond

Outflow from Dale Hodges Park to the Bow River
Clean water

Comments

[Isabel Gibson]

What a great idea! I've seen ponds and constructed habitat (ecologically appropriate) used in Arizona and Nevada to provide tertiary treatment of sewage effluent, but never for stormwater runoff. It seems like a win/win/win - the water is treated/filtered, there is new habitat, and residents have interesting walking areas. Good catch on that northern flicker. I also really like the shots of the Bow with fresh snow on the banks.

[beentouring]

Bowmont Park
I am glad you liked our quiet day.