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A Hidden Landscape of Challenges
During site excavation, remnants of long forgotten subdivisions surfaced: old roadbeds, building foundations, utilities. This urban archaeology required adaptive engineering on the fly.
Working collaboratively, the landscape architects, engineers, and contractors modified layouts to account for these subsurface barriers without sacrificing green infrastructure goals or delaying project delivery, with Stratavault’s modularity playing a key role in delivering the construction flexibility required.
Green Infrastructure as a Performance Layer
Klondike Park’s redesign elevates green infrastructure from a hidden layer to a hero feature. Beneath the central plaza, a Stratavault soil vault matrix supports large tree
growth under permeable paving and timber decking. The permeable surface is designed to function like healthy soils in nature allowing rainfall to pass through the pavers, infiltrate directly into the tree pits, and sustain the trees from below rather than shedding water into drains. In doing so, the system re-establishes natural hydrologic pathways within the built environment.
Rainfall from adjacent hardscapes is captured via Strataflow Curb Inlets and redirected into the Stratavault matrix, where it is filtered through the Strataflow assembly and stored in uncompacted, large soil volumes. The drainage network includes both perforated and non perforated pipes wrapped in filter fabric and surrounded by washed rock - a complete low-impact design (LID) solution
that turns runoff into a resource for long-term tree health.
Together, these design layers perform triple duty by:
- Mimicking natural infiltration by allowing rainfall soak into the ground rather than run off
- Supporting resilient tree growth by enabling deep, healthy root systems in shared uncompacted soil
- Reducing load on the municipal stormwater network by treating and retaining water at the source while harvesting additional runoff through curb inlets back to the tree pits.
In colder months, the great lawn transforms into a natural skating rink, leveraging Edmonton’s winter climate and further extending the site’s year-round performance and activation.
Ecological Urbanism in Practice
The landscape strategy layers both performance and aesthetic.
17 American Elms were chosen not only for their canopy and cooling properties, but also for their resilience in urban settings. These elms will eventually form a shaded alleé along the plaza, offering thermal comfort during summer events while sequestering carbon and improving air quality.
In addition to the tree planting, native and adaptive
species have been included throughout the site to attract pollinators, build biodiversity, and reduce maintenance needs.
This turns what was once an asphalt-heavy void into a living, breathing landscape and the combination of permeable paving, soil vaults, and stormwater harvesting ensures these elms are not only planted but are sustained by a water cycle that mimics nature, securing their growth and resilience for decades.
Public Realm and Cultural Place Making
Beyond its ecological credentials, Klondike Park also reestablishes a sense of place. A heritage-themed “legacy” play zone pays tribute to Edmonton’s gold rush past, while a new boardwalk lined with vendor kiosks and shaded seating creates a pedestrian-friendly promenade.
The boardwalk, equipped for both everyday strolling and festival vending, has been carefully designed to echo the look and feel of a historic main street, helping visitors make cultural connections while enjoying the space informally.
A Park Reinvented for a Future Proofed City
Klondike Park stands as a model for how cities can convert obsolete lands into climate ready, culturally rich public infrastructure.
The design demonstrates how urban landscapes can be re-engineered to restore natural stormwater flows. By designing pavement, soil, and planting systems that mimic natural processes, the park reduces flood risk, sustains its trees, and lightens the load on the municipal storm network—all while creating a vibrant civic space.
By designing for both climate resilience and human experience, the Klondike Park project brings new meaning to the idea of legacy. It doesn’t just honor the past; it builds a healthier, greener future for Edmonton.
