Jim Uffelmann Park Environmental Study

Project Summary

Recognizing the Park's importance to the community, Cochrane wanted to understand how the park is being used today and what the current environmental conditions are so that the park can be enjoyed for generations to come.

Working with external consultant, EDS Group Inc., Cochrane conducted a geotechnical and environmental assessment to:

• identify any environmentally sensitive areas
• identify any required remediation and mitigation needed
• understand current uses for the Park

Why are we conducting this study?

The study was initiated because of:

• Concerns surrounding the number of conflicts reported to the Town between different recreational uses in the Park
• Visible evidence of bank erosions on the slopes to the Bow River
• A desire to understand the environmental sensitivity of the Park
• With future plans for Jim Uffelmann to serve as a vital commuter pathway linking Cochrane to Canmore and Calgary, preserving the park's integrity is paramount

Who did we engage?

We engaged:

• 12 Town of Cochrane Staff representing 6 departments
• 20 Community Partners and Local Organizations
• More than 1,150 residents through an online survey

How your input will be used

Your input was used to understand the current uses for the Park and understand if there were any safety concerns. The environmental data, park usage and public opinion was analyzed and will be taken to Council this Winter. The objective of the presentation to Council is to highlight the current recreational uses, and how these uses are impacting the Park. The study will include a recommendation of next steps to investigate recreation and off-leash dog spaces in Cochrane with continued community engagement suggested.