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Plan to buy popular Calgary viewpoint draws heated opposition

View of downtown Calgary from Hillcrest Avenue. Tamara Elliott/Global News

CALGARY- A meeting about the future of a popular inner city park drew a standing-room only crowd on Tuesday night.

A plan to sell part of the Hillcrest Avenue Park overlooking downtown has drawn opposition from those who live in Mount Royal and Cliff Bungalow. The parkland is a historic viewpoint, which was gifted to the city by CP Rail nearly a century ago and is now a popular spot to enjoy a view of the city, and fireworks during the Calgary Stampede.

The man who owns the three neighbouring lots plans to turn the space into a single family home, and wants to annex part of the park.

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Critics aren’t sold on the idea.

“Everybody cares about the neighbourhood. I was born and raised in the neighbourhood, everybody’s been clambering on the slopes here watching fireworks for many, many years,” says Ward 8 councillor Evan Woolley. “Our inner-city communities are under served by park space, so it’s a challenge when we see the possibility of losing park space.”

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City council will have the final say on the sale, and a decision is expected in the fall.

 

 

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