One of the nicest things about the city of Edmonton is there’s been a long tradition of maintaining and creating natural areas even as there has been a lot of commercial and residential development. This means there’s never a park too far away.

Most likely, any new community you select in the southwest region will have parks, playgrounds, and green spaces built into the design of the neighbourhood, but sometimes you just want a change of pace. The following parks are all located in Southwest Edmonton, and they’ll only be a short drive away no matter where you live. You’ll soon see a visit will be well worth the drive.

Whitemud Park

Whitemud Park is a popular choice for those who want to get out in nature. They feature a wide variety of walking trails, and some of them are even wheelchair accessible. In the winter, you can take advantage of the fun toboggan hill. At the base of the hill, there’s the Alfred H. Savage Centre. It’s a building where you can use the restroom or just warm up for a little while. Throughout the year, this is the spot for learning more about nature in the local area and how to participate in some of the best outdoor sports for our area. Room rentals are also available if you’d like to host your own event here.

Terwillegar Park

Terwillegar Park is well-known for the rec centre there, but there are also a lot of opportunities for outdoor activities in the surrounding area. You can go walking, hiking, or mountain biking when the weather’s nice, or try snowshoeing or cross-country skiing when there’s snow on the ground. Dog-lovers appreciate the large off-leash area, which is the perfect spot to take Fido for some exercise and to meet a few new doggie friends. You can also go canoeing. The boat launch is not far from the parking lot.

Like taking pictures? You’ll want to bring your camera to the footbridge over the river, especially during the fall foliage. 

Hawrelak Park

Hawrelak Park is closer to the downtown area, so it’s a popular place to host festivals throughout the year. Those weekends will be crowded, but it also has a lot to offer at all times. In addition to the walking and cycling trails, there are playgrounds and areas where you can go for a picnic lunch. You can even buy food at the pavilion at certain times of the day. In the winter, there’s ice skating with skate rental available, and you can also take the family cross-country skiing. In the summer, rent a paddleboat to take on the lake. 

Laurier Park

Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park is a bit smaller than some of the others, but it still has some great features. For instance, there’s a boat launch where you can put your boat in for a trip down the river. There are also walking and cycling trails, and you can get in some pre-season practice at the baseball diamonds. One of the more unique features of Laurier Park is the horseshoe pit. The bathrooms aren’t available during the winter, so plan accordingly.

Callingwood Park

If you have kids, you’ll definitely want to come out to Callingwood Park frequently. In the summer, there’s a spray park where you can take the family to cool off a bit. There’s also a skatepark that will keep older kids entertained. Engraved in the sidewalks, you’ll find some poetry written by local children, and this is the site of the annual Kites over Callingwood festival. Come during this time, and you’ll get to see a lot of unique kites. Finally, Callingwood Park is close to the YMCA and public library, so you can stop by one of those places on your way home.

Rainbow Valley Campground

All of the above parks make for a day full of fun, but if you want to extend the fun a bit, you might want to go camping at the Rainbow Valley Campground. They have spaces for tents and RVs, a large playground, nature trails, and easy access to the ropes course at Snow Valley Aerial Park. Weekly rates are available throughout the summer months.

Whether you want to spend the entire day out in nature or just want to spend an hour at the playground, Southwest Edmonton’s parks have what you’re looking for. Take some time to explore all of them.

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