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A year after work began, Alex Decoteau Park is beginning to resemble the community-oriented public space it promised to be. The downtown core's first park since 2000 replaces a surface parking lot at the northwest corner of 105 Street and 102 Avenue with green space separated by bands of durable decorative concrete, which appear to be taking shape in recent photos from the site.
The 0.35-hectare park in the Warehouse District will feature open spaces designed to encourage informal play and community events, with custom linear seating nodes mimicking the angular lines that characterize the design. A fenced off-leash area for dogs will serve the growing pooch population in the neighbourhood, while a community garden and dynamic programmable water feature provide colourful animation to the space.
A 15-foot sculpture by Canadian artist Pierre Poussin will act as the park's visual marker. Espirit celebrates the legacy of Alex Decoteau, who served in the Edmonton Police Force from 1909 to 1916 as Canada's first Indigenous police officer. The Saskatchewan-born Decoteau was also a renowned long-distance runner, competing at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics before enlisting in the Canadian Army four years later, losing his life serving the country in the Battle of Passchendaele.
The south and east edges of the site will be seamlessly integrated with the streetscape, a sense of permeability that will be particularly appreciated when a future — though unfunded — at-grade LRT station along 102 Avenue enters service. The furnishings of the park are intended to support a feeling of warmth in the winter months; plantings will also be selected to ensure ample greenery throughout the year.
You can stay updated with the progress of the park at our designated Forum thread, where you can also get involved in the discussion.
