Reader Rock Garden and Confederation Park in Calgary have both been awarded a Green Flag Award, an international accreditation program that recognizes and rewards well managed parks and green spaces. Calgary’s parks are the first in Canada to receive this international recognition.
“This is a truly historic achievement for the City of Calgary to become the first Green Flag Award winner in Canada. Well done to everyone involved, including the volunteers and community groups that help these parks perform their best,” said Carl McClean, international development manager for the Green Flag Award.
The Green Flag Award evaluates parks on multiple fronts: natural habitat preservation, cleanliness, safety, welcoming design, and long-term community engagement. Calgary’s success highlights a commitment to excellence in every category.
“As Calgarians, we often take for granted the world class parks and green spaces we have in the city – as stewards of these spaces we’re honoured to receive this award, which affirms our commitment to providing welcoming spaces for all Calgarians, now and into the future,” said Graham Jones, Parks & Open Spaces.
Reader Rock Garden Historic Park is one of the city’s most unique cultural landscapes hosting thousands of different plant species and located in Calgary’s established community of Erlton. First created in 1913, its restoration has earned it an official designation as both a provincial and national historic resource.
Confederation Park was created in 1967 to mark the centennial of Canadian Confederation. This crescent shaped park of more than 160 hectares was once known as “the North Hill Coulee” and includes a wetland section and home to a host of aquatic wildlife and plant species. Confederation Park is also home to the nine hole Confederation Golf Course that is converted to over 7.5 kilometres of cross country skiing trails over the winter months.
The Green Flag Award has recognized more than 2,500 parks and green spaces, every year in over 20 countries around the world, rewarding well managed parks and green spaces and setting the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.
