Spring in the Park
User Story
By Kaitlin Harrison
It was an unusually warm April morning in Edmonton, Alberta. My friends and I were enjoying a lazy Saturday morning after a night out celebrating the end of the semester and the beginning of summer. In light of our good spirits and the beautiful weather, one of my friends suggested we go to William Hawrelak Park for the day. I agreed; I had never been to Hawrelak Park, even though I had lived in Edmonton for 7 years.
The 3 of us grabbed some blankets and ventured out wearing shorts and flip-flops. It couldn’t have been more than 20 degrees (Celsius), but the warmth of the sun felt comforting and rewarding, as it always does after an Edmonton winter. I happily sipped my iced coffee and enjoyed the fresh spring air that rushed in and out of our car’s open windows as we drove to the park. As we pulled off of the road and into the entrance of Hawrelak Park, I was surprised to see that we weren’t the only ones who wanted to spend our Saturday at the park (the parking area was already full of vehicles and bustling with people), and I would soon understand why.
Everywhere I looked was green. I looked out of the back window of the car and was slightly taken aback; the busy streets and tall buildings of the city had disappeared. Trees surrounded us. Everywhere I looked was green, and we hadn’t even gotten out of the car yet.
We parked the car, unpacked our blankets and snacks, and walked along a dirt path that led us through a cluster of trees. I walked slowly — admiring the way the sunlight filtered through the foliage that hung over me — while my friends walked briskly ahead. It was when I finally tore my glance away from the ceiling of tree branches above me that I saw William Hawrelak Park for the first time, and I gasped — taken aback, yet again.
My eyes were met with the glistening, still water of a large circular lake. The blue of the lake’s water contrasted vibrantly with the healthy green of the grass that surrounded it. There was grass as far as I could see, and where the grass stopped there were trees. Trees enclosed the entire area in such a manner that I almost forgot I was in a city.
We found a free patch of grass and settled on our blankets to soak up the sun and enjoy the scenery. I laughed in disbelief at the number of ducks and Canadian geese that wandered around carelessly, collecting breadcrumbs tossed by excited children. Sounds of birds chirping and leaves rustling filled my ears as I watched many happy Edmontonian couples and families as they walked by or settled on blankets nearby. I could not believe that a park such as this existed right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of downtown Edmonton.
My friends and I spent a relaxing afternoon in Hawrelak Park that day, and I have returned countless times since then. My family and I moved to Edmonton from Golden, a small mountain town in British Columbia, when I was 12 years old. I was excited to move to Edmonton. I immediately loved the city and all of the opportunities it offered, but I was worried that I would miss the nature and scenery of British Columbia. However, I soon realized that although I lived in the city, I was not far from nature. It is natural areas such as William Hawrelak Park that make Edmonton such a unique city to live in. I love Edmonton because every day I can enjoy the beauty of nature and the benefits of living in the “big city.”
