Eau Claire Area Improvements
Eau Claire Area Improvements
With the completion of the Downtown Flood Barrier and Eau Claire Promenade, Calgary’s downtown communities are now protected by a continuous flood wall spanning from the Peace Bridge to the Reconciliation Bridge. After three years of construction, the completion of the Eau Claire Area Improvement projects, which include the new Jaipur Bridge and Centre Street Pedestrian Ramps, is a major milestone for Downtown Calgary and the Eau Claire area.
We are now working on the final project in the Eau Claire Area: the Eau Claire Plaza, which includes the relocation of the historic Eau Claire and Bow River Lumber Company building. Work in the Plaza is well underway and is expected to be completed in 2025.
Interested in touring the area? Download our walking map, including places of interest and background information about the projects recently completed.
On behalf of the Eau Claire Area team, thank you to the community for their continued support and patience while we work to complete the improvements in this area.
Eau Claire improvement projects in progress
Completed Eau Claire improvement projects
About the project
Investing in the future of Eau Claire, Prince’s Island, Chinatown and the East Village is a fundamental piece of The City’s Downtown Strategy – the effort to support and incentivize private investment, generate visits and spending, and provide amenities and services to enhance the quality of life and experience for people living, working and visiting Calgary’s downtown.
Updating our downtown’s interface with the Bow River goes beyond designing improved pathways and public spaces. It involves a flood mitigation effort that will increase the resilience of our downtown and protect the economic drivers of our economy.
We are committed to:
- Improving connections into and out of Eau Claire, and downtown as a whole, whether you travel by foot, bus, bike, scooter or car.
- Building on Eau Claire’s character to create great spaces to live, work, play, and shop.
- Planning for the near- and long-term to deliver thoughtful growth and development in the area.
Together these projects will support the Calgary community for decades to come. Each of the projects in the area has the same objective of building and maintaining a wonderful neighbourhood. It’s important that we implement each project to meet current needs and to lay the foundation for expected future demand as Calgary grows and evolves.
The Eau Claire Public Realm Plan (82MB file download) provides a comprehensive vision for the future of the Eau Claire Public Realm. It highlights key considerations, programs and elements that will allow Eau Claire area projects to capitalize on the many opportunities that exist in the area and that will accompany forthcoming projects such as the Green Line and the redevelopment of Eau Claire Market. While traveling through the area, you will see how the Eau Claire Area provides a place where Calgarians can gather and connect.
Eau Claire Area Improvements
Past Projects
West Eau Claire Park
A place to gather
With construction complete, The City of Calgary has opened the revitalized West Eau Claire Park.
This space is the heart of the city, where culture and nature intermingle. The Park and Promenade connect to create a safe, efficient and beautiful riverfront park space, promenade and cycle network.
West Eau Claire Park has two focal points: the Delta Garden and the Cove. The Delta Garden is located at the south end of the Peace Bridge, and forms an architectural delta to move people through the park.
The Cove is a terraced seating area, to the east of the Delta Garden, where people can linger and relax on Muskoka chairs, while taking in the panorama of the Bow River, Peace Bridge and Delta Garden.
The new promenade east of the Peace Bridge connecting to Eau Claire Market is now open to the public. This promenade creates an inviting pedestrian connection along the Bow River with new spaces for seating and provides enhanced safety by separating cyclists and pedestrian users.
A place to reflect
West Eau Claire Park and Eau Claire Promenade are integral parts of flood protection for Downtown Calgary. Flood protection works harmoniously with the Park and Promenade design and is integrated right into public spaces. The City’s plan for flood mitigation is a multi-pronged approach with watershed, community and property-level components. West Eau Claire Park is one example of multiple community level flood barrier projects that are currently underway with support of the Government of Alberta.
These flood protection efforts result in:
- Increased resilience for critical services, public infrastructure and civic services
- Reduced business and economic interruption
- Improved public space adjacent to the Bow River
- Integrated flood protection measures as part of Eau Claire construction projects
- Increased resiliency for residential and commercial properties and future infrastructure projects
On May 1, 2018 the Government of Alberta announced that funding through the Alberta Community Resilience Program (ACRP) would be provided to construct a new flood barrier along the right bank of the Bow River and extending from Eau Claire Plaza to Reconciliation Bridge. This flood barrier will extend flood protection provided by the West Eau Claire Park flood barrier.
Learn more about the City’s Flood Resiliency and Mitigation Plan.
A place to connect
The new Park and Promenade make it easier for Calgarians to walk and cycle, with designated pedestrian and bicycle paths. They are designed to be active and multi-modal; part of a continuous, safe and accessible riverfront. These spaces are designed to encourage year-round healthy, active lifestyles.
A place to explore
An integral component of West Eau Claire Park is the Delta Garden – an architectural delta to move people from the Peace Bridge through the Park. The Gardens offer an opportunity to use public art to consider the disconnect between the regimented process of dividing landscapes, the land’s natural divisions and the power of people’s perceptions to transform any given place.
Local artists, Caitlind r.c. Brown and Wayne Garrett, have created a piece of art that embeds 12,000 brass survey monuments in the sidewalk of the Delta Gardens, intended to glitter like light across water.
Inspired by Italo Calvino’s “Invisible Cities”, the Delta Garden explores the notion that a city differs through the eyes of different people. Each survey monument features Calgarians’ answers to the questions “Where are you going?” and where do you want to be?”.
To learn more about the artists and their artwork, please visit www.invisiblecitysurvey.com.
West Eau Claire Master Plan
The West Eau Claire Master Plan provided a high-level vision for the area’s public space. The City considered all input received during the 2014 engagement to make informed decisions, and balance opposing views when creating the final design for the area. The draft plan was presented back to citizens to ensure it was consistent with what we heard through our engagement process.
View the final report
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