Edmonton's oldest park once had a zoo and a 'Tunnel of Love'
If we told you Edmonton’s oldest park once featured a roller coaster, a zoo, and even a “Tunnel of Love,” would you believe us? Well, all we have to do is look through a history book to see Borden Park’s fascinating past.
Located in the community of Virginia Park on the north side of the river, Borden Park has more than a century of history. Established on what was then the city limits in 1906, the 22-hectare park was originally named East End City Park.
By the 1920s, the park was one of the city’s most popular gathering places, drawing crowds for picnics, musical performances, and sports games.
City of Edmonton Archives
City of Edmonton Archives
In 1914, the park was renamed in honour of Sir Robert Borden, Canada’s eighth prime minister, following his visit to Edmonton on the eve of the First World War.
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But, like today, Borden Park was more than just a place for picnics and ball games. It was also home to Edmonton’s first zoo, which operated there until the Edmonton Valley Zoo opened in 1959.
City of Edmonton Archives
Borden Park was also home to an amusement park, featuring a carousel, roller coaster and the beloved Old Mill ride, better known to many as the “Tunnel of Love.” According to the Coaster Enthusiasts of Canada, the “Tunnel of Love” was a wet, dark ride where passenger boats went through tunnels drawn along by magnets.
And if that weren’t enough to draw crowds, the park also featured a tea room and became home to one of Edmonton’s first outdoor swimming pools in 1924.
That same year, the pool became the centre of a civil rights battle after Black Edmontonians looking to cool off discovered the city had quietly introduced segregationist policies. The Black community appealed the rule, and by mid-July, the city council voted to overturn the decision.
City of Edmonton Archives
But by the 1930s, visits to the park began to decline. The Old Mill ride was destroyed by fire, while the economic hardships of the Great Depression meant residents had less money for outings. The roller coaster, which had operated since 1915, was dismantled in 1935.
Today, the park features public art, walking paths and a formal flower garden, and remains a popular spot for all kinds of sports games. It also hosts a range of festivals and community events, including the UFest Ukrainian Festival and Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Festival.
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The Borden Natural Swimming Pool, which opened in 2018, is an award-winning chemical-free outdoor pool surrounded by sand, lounge areas and shaded umbrellas.
Borden Park
Address:Ā 7507 Borden Park Rd. NW