Big Island Provincial Park

Provincial park in Alberta, Canada

Big Island Provincial Park

Location of Big Island Provincial Park

Location| Alberta, Canada
Nearest city| Edmonton
Coordinates| 53°26′27″N 113°38′46″W﻿ / ﻿53.440820°N 113.645997°W﻿ / 53.440820; -113.645997
Area| 68 ha (170 acres)
Governing body| Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation

Big Island Provincial Park is a 68-hectare provincial park in southwest Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

## Description

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The entire park is contained on Big Island in the North Saskatchewan River. As of 2024[update] there is no way for the public to legally access the park except by canoe; however, Alberta Parks is planning to make the park more accessible.[1] Across the river from the island to the east is the River Ridge Golf Club and the neighbourhood of Windermere. The shore to the west of the park is all private property, although there is a private road into the park. The park itself features a day-use area and some trails which are still being developed by Alberta Parks.[2] The park also hosts a large amount of wetlands especially on the western side of the island, as well as some meadows though the island is mostly dominated by parkland forest.

## Activities

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Activities currently allowed at the park include swimming, canoeing, kayaking, hiking and wildlife watching, including birdwatching.[1]

## History

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During the early years of Edmonton's development, the island was sometimes visited by steamships for day trips.[3] Prior to being a provincial park the island was a natural area. In 2019 the Alberta government started working with the City of Edmonton and the Enoch Cree to develop the island into a park in hopes of creating more greenspace in Edmonton's North Saskatchewan River valley. A proposal for the park was formally made in 2022 and the park was established in February 2023 with $9.6 million given for the further development of the park.[4] The island has been subject to flooding many times over the years including in 1929 when the entire island was split in two.[3]

## Ecology

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Birds in the park include American robin, bald eagle, mallard, red-winged blackbird, American wigeon, common nighthawk, and great blue heron. Mammals that have been observed in the park include moose, fisher, porcupine, coyote, and beaver.[3]

## See also

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* List of provincial parks in Alberta

## References

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1. ^ a b "Big Island Provincial Park". Alberta Parks. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
2. ^ "Big Island Provincial Park Brochure" (PDF). Alberta Parks. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
3. ^ a b c "Big Island Provincial Park Engagement Webinar". YouTube. Alberta Parks. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
4. ^ Konguavi, Thandiwe (30 March 2023). "Alberta government announces $211M for provincial parks, public lands". CBC News. Retrieved 5 April 2024.

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Protected areas in Alberta

World Heritage Sites|

* Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks
* Dinosaur Provincial Park
* Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump
* Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park
* Wood Buffalo National Park
* Writing-on-Stone / Áísínai’pi

National parks|

* Banff
* Elk Island
* Jasper
* Waterton Lakes
* Wood Buffalo

Provincial parks,
wildlands and wildernesses|

* Aspen Beach
* Antelope Hill
* Beauvais Lake
* Big Hill Springs
* Big Island
* Big Knife
* Bow Valley
* Bragg Creek
* Brown-Lowery
* Calling Lake
* Canmore Nordic Centre
* Caribou Mountains
* Carson-Pegasus
* Castle
* Castle Wildland
* Chain Lakes
* Cold Lake
* Crimson Lake
* Cross Lake
* Crow Lake
* Cypress Hills
* Dillberry Lake
* Dinosaur
* Dry Island Buffalo Jump
* Dunvegan
* Eagle Point
* Fish Creek
* Garner Lake
* Glenbow Ranch
* Gooseberry Lake
* Greene Valley
* Gregoire Lake
* Hilliard's Bay
* Hay-Zama Lakes
* Jarvis Bay
* Kinbrook Island
* Kananaskis Country
* Lakeland
* Lesser Slave Lake
* Little Bow
* Little Fish
* Lois Hole Centennial
* Long Lake
* Midland
* Miquelon Lake
* Moonshine Lake
* Moose Lake
* Notikewin
* Obed Lake
* O'Brien
* Park Lake
* Pembina River
* Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
* Pierre Grey's Lakes
* Pigeon Lake
* Police Outpost
* Queen Elizabeth
* Ram Falls
* Red Lodge
* Rochon Sands
* Rock Lake
* Saskatoon Island
* Sheep River
* Sir Winston Churchill
* Spray Valley
* Strathcona Science
* Sundance
* Sylvan Lake
* Thunder Lake
* Tillebrook
* Two Lakes
* Vermilion
* Wabamun Lake
* Whitney Lakes
* William A. Switzer
* Williamson
* Willmore Wilderness
* Willow Creek
* Winagami Lake
* Woolford
* Writing-on-Stone
* Wyndham-Carseland
* Young's Point

Urban parks|

* Calgary Zoo
* Carburn Park
* Devonian Gardens
* Edmonton Valley Zoo
* Edworthy Park
* Griffith Woods Park
* Indian Battle Park
* Lawrey Gardens
* Mill Woods Park
* Muttart Conservatory
* North Saskatchewan River Valley
* Nose Hill
* Oldman River Valley
* Pearce Estate Park
* Sylvan Lake
* University of Alberta Botanic Garden
* Weaselhead Flats
* Wood's Douglas Fir Tree Sanctuary

Museums and
historic sites|

* Alberta Central Railway Museum
* Atlas Coal Mine
* Canadian Grain Elevator Discovery Centre
* Canadian Tractor Museum
* Cold Lake Air Force
* Ellis Bird Farm
* Fort Calgary
* Fort Edmonton Park
* Fort Victoria
* Fort Whoop-Up
* Frank Slide
* Galt Historic Railway Park
* Glenbow Museum
* Heritage Acres Farm Museum
* Heritage Park
* Krause Milling Co.
* Pioneer Acres
* Prairie Elevator Museum
* Remington Carriage Museum
* Reynolds
* Royal Alberta
* Royal Tyrrell
* Rutherford House
* Scandia Eastern Irrigation District Museum
* South Peace Centennial Museum
* Spruce Grove Grain Elevator Museum
* St. Albert Grain Elevator Park
* Stephansson House
* Ukrainian Village
* Warner elevator row
* Whyte
* National historic sites
* Provincial historic sites

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