This Calgary park used to be home to a prominent ranching family
Located in the beautiful community of Hillhurst, Riley Park has become a cherished green space in Calgary, but over a century ago, it was part of a working ranch.
Over 130 years ago, the land Riley Park sits on was a part of the Cochrane Ranch, which at the time spanned over 100,000 acres.
Thomas Riley, his wife Georgiana, and 10 children came to Calgary in the late 1880s and began homesteading on the Cochrane Ranch, in the area that is now Hillhurst.Â
The Riley family started out small, homesteading a quarter section of land. They spent many years farming, and by the early 1900s, their farm had barns, stables, granaries, and a corral.
As their family grew, so did the farm. As Riley’s sons became of age to own their own land, they entered into a partnership with their father as the Riley & Sons Agricultural Enterprise.
They quickly scooped up more and more land, totalling around 10,000 acres, and collectively became known as the Ranche.Â
The Riley family’s farms were a bustling example of Calgary’s early western roots. Ezra Riley, one of Thomas’ sons, subdivided the land in the early 1900s, and upon Thomas’ death in 1909, a portion of the land was left/donated to the City of Calgary.Â
City of Calgary – Your Local Government/Facebook
William Roland Reader played a massive role in getting the park where it is today. Serving the city as its Superintendent of Parks and Cemeteries from 1913 to 1942, his goal was to transform the city into the ultimate destination in the West.
At Riley Park, he combined ornamental plantings along 10th Street with pathways, creating a balance of beauty and informality. Reader also prioritized recreation and social engagement. He had a hand in constructing a wading pond in 1913, a toboggan run in 1914, a playground in 1917, and three cricket pitches in 1919.
Today, Riley Park is a hub for sports, picnics, and community gatherings in Calgary. Its open fields, walkways, and greenery offer a peaceful retreat for Calgarians, reflecting the vision of the Riley family and William Roland Reader.