There were plans to build Hawrelak Park nearly 30 years before it opened

For nearly 60 years, William Hawrelak Park has served as a central gathering space for Edmontonians, serving as the backdrop to some of our favourite events and traditions.

Now that the park has reopened after a major rehabilitation, we’re looking back at how this massive river valley space came to be. If you think modern city planning is slow, consider that it took nearly three decades from the initial proposal for the park to actually open.

Long before it became a city park, Indigenous peoples lived and hunted in the North Saskatchewan River valley and used its diverse resources for thousands of years. European fur traders arrived in the 18th century, and by the late 19th century, as the fur trade declined, settlers began staking land claims following the Métis river lot system.

In 1883, the Edmonton Settlement plan designated the river flat where the park now sits as River Lot 1. At the time, it was owned by Joseph Hebert, who operated a gold-mining scow along the river. By 1921, the City had leased the north half of the land to the Mayfair Golf and Country Club, now known as the Royal Mayfair Golf Club.

Two decades later, in 1942, Edmonton city council approved plans for the south half to become a public park.

But before those plans could take shape, the area went on a small side quest as an industrial site, with a gravel pit opening in 1949 and operating for a few years. In 1955, during Mayor William Hawrelak’s term, the parks department was finally directed to move forward with development plans.

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The future park site was named Mayfair Park in 1956. That same year, it was reported that the City had saved $140,000 for its construction by setting aside 15 cents per cubic yard of gravel extracted during the pit’s operation.

Construction of the park was a major, long-term undertaking for the City. By 1966, the pond was stocked with trout and open for children to fish. That same year, tenders were issued for the construction of the park’s pavilions. On Canada Day 1968, the park officially opened to the public.

Seven years after Mayor Hawrelak’s death, City Council renamed Mayfair Park in his honour in 1982.

Notable landmarks within the historic park include The Main Pavilion, Boat House, and Picnic Shelters #1, #2, and #3, which were constructed between 1968 and 1973, reflecting mid-20th-century modern architecture.

Characterized by clean lines, organic forms, and West Coast post-and-beam influences, the structures share a unified design with concrete column-and-beam systems supporting timber rafter trusses, with curved rooflines, cedar decking, and central domed skylights.

These buildings are closely tied to Edmonton’s post-Second World War population boom and the development of its park system. In 2023, City Council recognized their significance by designating them as Municipal Historic Resources.

As part of the rehabilitation project, key elements such as the concrete columns, roof trusses, and original wood features were restored or preserved, including the Main Pavilion’s woodwork, which was returned to its natural cedar finish.

With wide-open spaces and one of Western Canada’s largest outdoor amphitheatres, Hawrelak Park today is home to some of the city’s most loved festivals, from the Silver Skate Festival in the winter to Heritage Fest in the summer. This latest upgrade is just another chapter in what’s sure to be a long history for this lovely slice of YEG!

A great new addition we’re looking forward to is the new food vendor Lift Me Up on the Lake, from the operators of Tiramisu Bistro, which will offer picnic basket delivery park-wide in addition to dining at the main pavilion.

You can find out more about the park’s landmarks and history on the City of Edmonton website.

William Hawrelak Park

Address: 9330 Groat Rd. NW