A downtown Edmonton park created in the '90s is getting a fresh new look
A downtown Edmonton park is getting a fresh new look, with work underway on a major renewal for Mary Burlie Park.
The park, located on 97 Street and 105 Avenue, is in its second year of construction, which will feature new recreational amenities, landscaping, and a public washroom.
Once complete, the park will feature a new shelter, a half basketball court, a ping pong table and a chiminea (an outdoor fire pit with a tall chimney). New trees, shrubs, perennials, mulch and sod will also be added.
City of Edmonton
The project aims to improve the park’s safety and accessibility, encourage more people to use the space, and repair or replace aging infrastructure.
Mary Burlie Park was established in 1999 and named after the late Mary Burlie. Burlie was an advocate and social worker for Black and Indigenous communities in Edmonton.
City of Edmonton Archives
Burlie was among the first volunteers at Boyle Street Community Services when it opened in 1971 and continued working there until her death in 1996, earning the nickname “the Black angel of Boyle Street.”
City of Edmonton
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The park was initially included in the broader Boyle Street and McCauley Neighbourhood Renewal project, but additional city funding allowed it to proceed as an independent project.
City of Edmonton
The park was also previously home to A Vision of Hope, a sculpture by artist Michele Mitchell commissioned for the 10th anniversary of the École Polytechnique massacre. Separate from the park renewal project, it was removed by the Edmonton Arts Council for restoration in 2023, and the body will decide whether it returns to the park or is moved elsewhere.
Edmonton Arts Council
Work on the park is expected to be finished this summer. However, according to its most recent update, this summer’s heavy rainfall has forced crews to temporarily shift their attention to renewing the adjacent alley while the park site dries out.
You can learn more about the park renewal project on the City of Edmonton website, and Mary Burlie and her legacy on the Boyle Street Community Services website.