A new park is coming to downtown Edmonton and its design looks out of this world | Daily Hive

Google Street View/City of Edmonton

An unauthorized downtown Edmonton parking lot is being turned into a new park with a celestial-inspired design.

The City of Edmonton acquired the parking lot at 103 Street and 100 Avenue and has decided to turn the site into a gathering space for the McKay Avenue community. The future park is currently in its design phase, which is expected to continue into early 2027.

If all goes to plan, construction will begin in spring 2027.

The proposed park design is inspired by the cosmos, particularly the circumpolar constellations of Cassiopeia, also known as the Elk Skin and Ursa Minor, or atima atchakosuk (The Dog Stars).

City of Edmonton

The Indigenous stories connected to the constellations helped shape the park’s design and celestial elements. The proposal includes sparkling domes representing stars emerging from the ground plane, along with a catenary lighting installation overhead. The park would also feature a central plaza, with wolf, coyote, and fox sculptures at the entrances.

At night, the park’s celestial elements will light up and glow.

The site was chosen for a number of reasons, including its location next to two protected bike lanes, its south-facing orientation allowing for maximum natural sunlight year-round, and its proximity to a high-density residential population.

The west side of the site also borders Freemasons Hall, a building with heritage value.

“By purchasing the land, the City of Edmonton can both create new green space and eliminate an unauthorized surface parking lot,” the City wrote.

The project is being funded through the City’s capital budget. The design phase is expected to wrap up early next year, with construction expected to begin in Spring 2027.

Another 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.