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Oldman River valley parks system


The Oldman River valley parks system is a continuous collection of eight urban parks in the Oldman River valley of Lethbridge, Alberta, 100 metres (330 ft) below the prairie level. The parks were created in the 1980s as part of the city's Urban Parks Project. Today they are a combined 16 square kilometres (6.2 sq mi) in size and comprise one of the largest urban park systems in North America, and the third largest in Canada.

Eight parks make up the system:

Pavan Park and Cottonwood Park are in the river valley, but are separated from the rest of the system.

The park system contains campgrounds, playgrounds, eating areas and several kilometres of cyclist/pedestrian trails, including part of the Coal Banks Trail system. Well-known attractions in the system include Fort Whoop-Up, Helen Schuler Nature Centre and the High Level Bridge. A golf course is adjacent to Elizabeth Hall Wetlands.

Various wildlife live in the park system, including deer, hawks, owls, rabbits, snakes, fox, coyotes, badgers, porcupines, pelicans, beavers, muskrats, ground squirrels and cranes.

Tree species native to the Old Man River valley are Populus deltoides, Populus balsamifera and Populus angustifolia. These three species interbreed, producing a very diverse forest with varying leaf shapes and branch patterns. In fact, this area is the only place in the world where three poplar species hybridize.


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