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A collective of urban-minded Edmontonians have revealed an ambitious concept to link two cultural centres, downtown and Whyte Avenue, with a ribbon of green space. Architect Michael Zabinski, who we talked with earlier this year about Edmonton's rapid urbanization, is among the group of design professionals who have envisioned a four-kilometre park along the Canadian Pacific Railway right-of-way, travelling through Oliver, the North Saskatchewan River Valley, Garneau and Strathcona.
A website for the project launched this week details the disparate sections of the High Level Line plan. Described as a "multi-modal thread that connects the north and south sides of Edmonton," the Line's northern entry point would settle at MacEwan University.
Throughout the route, the hope is that underutilized spaces would be activated and animated, turning surface parking lots and low-slung retail spaces into vibrant mixed-use developments. A series of 'Track Shacks' dotting the green space would offer a variety of amenities to users, including light food and beverages, washrooms, and sports equipment rentals.
Further south at 'Railtown Green', open spaces, shops and restaurants would be integrated into the western edge of the Line and along 109 Street. That would lead to a multi-modal bridge over Jasper Avenue, with more shops and restaurants positioned beneath. At Grandin Junction, the sunken trail south of 100 Avenue would be brought up to the level of the street, creating a space for a market.
The upper deck of the High Level Bridge would be in store for a major makeover, with a dedicated pedestrian and cycling route providing safe passage over the North Saskatchewan River. From there, the plan calls for an opening of the historic rail tunnel under Garneau, allowing the train to mingle alongside pedestrians and cyclists. Their vision extends east to Strathcona and imagines a landscape filled with laneway housing, garden plots, orchards, and naturalized features. The Line would terminate at the original Strathcona Canadian Pacific Railway station, just south of Whyte Avenue.
What do you think of the project? Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page.
