St. Patrick’s Island Pedestrian Bridge Now Open!

St. Patrick's Island Pedestrian Bridge Is Now Open!

Pedestrians on the pathways in downtown now have another bridge, and eventually, will have a new recreational area to discover as well!

Connecting St. Patrick's Island to the north side of East Village and to the south side of the Bridgeland / Riverside neighbourhoods, the bridge has finally been completed after a years delay due to the floods in June of 2013 that caused insurmountable damage to the deck.

On a side note, pathway users will also be happy to know that Inglewood is also now connected to the East Village RiverWalk with the completion of the Traverse over the Elbow River in mid August of 2014.

But wait, the excitement doesn't stop there either as there's much more to come at the St. Patrick's Island development including:

The Lookout Plaza

Found on the eastern edge of St. Patrick's Island, The Lookout Plaza will include a small amphitheatre, water landscaping and overviews of other parts of the park including The Lowland Channel (below).

It's location will also serve as a gateway towards the Calgary Zoo and as a central meeting place on the island as a whole where you'll find washrooms, food trucks, bicycle parking, seating and more.

The Lowland Channel

A long time ago, there used to be a channel between the St. Patrick's and St. George's Islands which doesn't exist anymore because it was filled in.

However, that channel has been reclaimed to create a seasonal wetland that will have elevated boardwalks around its perimeter which lead towards the Gallery Forest.

The Rise

A small, grassy hill standing nine metres high providing visitors the perfect vantage point for taking in the sights and sounds of the island.

It's elevation will also make it a great spot for any type of cultural celebration, social gatherings, or perhaps a small tobogganing hill for when winter comes.

The Seasonal Branch

What once was a channel that was filled to construct a pedestrian bridge sometime in the 1960's has now been restored and filled with gravel to create the perfect wading area for spring and summer and an ideal place for ice skating in the winter. The Seasonal Branch will also include bicycle parking spots and public seating.

The Tip

Just west of the new pedestrian bridge will be an area called "The Tip", complete with seating to give visitors a chance to enjoy the scenery of the water's edge on the Bow River.

East Village Projects

The St. Patrick's Island project is just a small part of the much larger East Village (and area) restoration, helmed by the government-run developer Calgary Municipal Lands Corporation (CMLC).

To date, nearly $2 billion has been invested in the East Village project as a whole and with around 30 percent of developmental parcels still yet to be sold, that number is set to go up a whole lot more.

Once completed, the entire restoration of St. Patrick's Island will cost approximately $45 million.

Want to know more about the very exciting up and coming East Village? See our Complete East Village Guide today!

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