Profile
Confederation Park was originally created to celebrate Canada‘s Centennial in 1967. In 2007, as one of Calgary’s significant cultural landscapes, a new playground was created to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. In homage to the iconic Canadian canoe and recognizing the significance of the voyageur canoe for travel by First Nations and early European settlers, a large tipped over canoe sculpture sits resting on a log and boulders.
The canoe sculpture is one of the centerpieces of the playground that sits at the base of a large multi-level for tower. The tower design matches an earlier version of a fort tower that was on the exact site in the early to mid 1900’s. The fort tower can be accessed via climbing nets and rewards children with a thrilling ride down a 4.5m (14′) tube slide. The tower also allows children a spectacular viewpoint from which to enjoy the green space.
In the junior area, timber steppers are set up a slope to a hill slide, challenging children’s balancing skills and developing their agility. A water pump in a sandpit give children a very tactile experience; encouraging them to get a bit messy and creative while extracting water from the pump and working with friends. A bank of swings and monkey bar climbers add additional play elements to the park.
The site is fully designed with the whole family in mind. It includes multiple seating areas on custom timber benches and stone seating walls. Trees and shrubs planted among the play features add interest and texture. Most importantly, they will provide necessary shade while children play.
Client: City of Calgary
Collaboration: Ground Cubed, Wilco Contractors SW
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Completion Date: Spring 2017
