Lethbridge - The 2023 Canadian City Parks Report

We’ve switched to biennial data gathering for the city profiles — The data available here was collected in early 2022 and originally published in last year’s Canadian City Parks Report.

City Profile

Lethbridge

2022

Alberta

Population: 98,406

Lethbridge has the most hectares of parkland relative to population with 30.1 hectares per thousand people.
Lethbridge is above average for percentage of parkland that is natural area at 69%.
Lethbridge is one of 57% of cities that has a seniors strategy that includes parks.

The city is developing an Indigenous Placemaking Strategy and undergoing a public space audit to review the city’s public realm through the lenses of truth, reconciliation and inclusion. The strategy is being informed by engagement with Blackfoot and other Indigenous communities in Lethbridge, and will consider the renaming, reframing and placemaking of the city’s public spaces.
The Lethbridge Parks & Pathways app is a GPS-enabled phone app that assists users in exploring the extensive river valley or searching for park amenities and recreation opportunities. The app is available for Apple and Android devices.
The city is partnering with the University of Lethbridge to naturalize three test plots with native grasses that support pollinator species and require less maintenance. The program, which supports the city’s goal of naturalizing 100 hectares of parkland, will test two different seed blends and determine the best strategies for future park naturalization work.

30.1

ha of parks & green space / 1000 people

Total parks and green space

Total hectares of parkland and green space that is publicly accessible and owned, leased, or under a management agreement by the municipality. This number should capture all parks and green spaces that are perceived/used by residents similarly to parkland.

Specifically, it should include:

Actively managed parkland
Natural parkland/areas
Other municipally owned, managed, or leased open spaces that are used as public green space

Excludes:

Golf courses
School yards, if owned/maintained by the municipality
Active (open) cemeteries
Sports stadia
Parking lots
Institutional and other publicly owned green space
Other parks/green spaces that are not owned, managed or leased by the municipality (e.g. privately owned public spaces)

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2,964 ha total

69%

of parkland is natural area

Natural parkland

A natural area is a green space which receives a relatively low level of maintenance and supports natural or naturalizing vegetation. Natural areas may be publicly accessible (e.g. via trail networks) or areas with limited/little public access.

Natural areas may include:

trails or walkways
washrooms
environmentally sensitive/protected areas
stormwater ponds/water bodies located within natural areas

Excludes:

parking lots
actively managed parkland

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2,041 ha total

31%

of parkland is actively managed

Actively managed parkland

Total hectares of parkland that is actively maintained by the municipality for community use. These parks often contain built and natural amenities such as: park furniture, planted trees/beds, sports fields, playgrounds, and mown grass.

Includes:

plazas and “grey” spaces used for public recreation, when maintained by the parks department
small ponds/water bodies located within actively managed park spaces

Excludes:

natural areas
hazard lands
school yards
active (open) cemeteries
golf courses
sports stadia
parking lots

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923 ha total

23%

of total city land is parkland

12,700 ha of total city area

Dog parks

Off-leash dog areas

Includes both standalone dog parks and off-leash dog areas within parks.

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Community gardens/urban farms

Community gardens/urban farms are food-growing gardens available for the public to use that may require membership. This includes community orchards.

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124

Playgrounds

A playground refers to an area with purpose-built children’s playground equipment present, and may have just one single item of equipment or several items located together.

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Public washrooms

Total number of permanent public washrooms in parks that are open year-round or seasonally. Excludes portable toilets.

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10 winterized public washrooms

10% of land available for development

Parkland provision goal (distance to park / ha per 1000 people)

Parkland Map

View Lethbridge’s parkland map

$130

Parks operating expenditures / person

Operating expenditures (actuals)

Direct operating expenditures (not including revenues) for 2021 for maintaining parks and natural areas. This number will be used with your current year population to understand operating budget spent per person.

Includes:

planting and maintenance of trees in park/natural areas
graffiti & vandalism repair
management, administration & operational staff salaries
consultant/contractor costs
parks horticultural plantings
maintenance of closed cemeteries if carried out from the parks operating budget
parks litter pickup & waste disposal
inspection and maintenance of splash pads, playgrounds & outdoor fitness equipment
maintenance & replacement of park furniture
public toilets where maintained from parks budget
sports field maintenance
snow clearing and ice control for parks & natural areas
any other parks/green space maintenance costs except cemetery costs where the cemetery is "active"

Excludes: golf courses, swimming pools, indoor recreation facilities/halls, forestry, and zoos.

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$12,763,171 total

$2,284,317

Parks capital expenditures

Capital expenditures (actuals)

Capital expenditure for all capital items related to land improvement works completed during the 2021 financial year.

It includes:

Both new and renewal work
Capital items carried forward from previous years
Salaries and wages for all staff involved in the design, planning and delivery of capital projects.

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$38,765

Total philanthropy/sponsorships

Total amount donated to the city through philanthropic sources or corporate sponsorship in 2021 to fund park-based projects.

Excludes:

general revenue generated by the city (e.g. through user fees, park bench dedication programs, etc.)
provincial/federal government grants

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6.2

Volunteers / 1000 people

Volunteers

Includes only volunteers who have worked directly with the municipality (not external organizations). Programming refers to publicly accessible activities and events (e.g., yoga classes, nature walks, park cleanups, farmer's markets, festivals, celebrations, etc.). Programming does not include any large commercial activities, such as a private party.

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612 total park volunteers

Volunteer hours / 1000 people

2,416 total park volunteer hours