Harlow & Noble Parks Restoration

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About the project

As residents of the Harlow & Noble area, we are asking for your input in developing a concept for the upcoming restoration of your neighbourhood parks!

As you may know, new water and gas lines will be installed through Harlow & Noble parks in 2025. This necessary work will address aging infrastructure, improve the water distribution system's resiliency, and minimize the likelihood of future service disruptions to residents in the area.

This project requires the excavation of large areas in both parks and will unfortunately result in the removal of approximately 40 trees. We are exploring options for replacing some of the trees within the parks; however, we cannot replant trees in the area above the newly installed utility lines, as the roots can damage the pipes over time, leading to costly repairs and interruptions in your or your neighbors’ utility services. Additionally, trees can complicate and delay critical repairs during unplanned outages. Tree removal will begin on or around January 7th and will be completed by March 1st.

In addition to the restoration work, we are taking this opportunity to remove the aging Noble playground structure and replace it with a new feature amenity. Whether it's a new playground, or something completely different, we want your input on the future of your park. Here is a map showing the location of nearby playgrounds.

The first survey asked residents of the Harlow neighbourhood their preference and support for the four amenity options listed as well as other questions related to the project elements below.


First survey results

Read the results of the first survey here. The results of this survey indicate that a playground replacement is the community's preference. A seating and shade area was also a popular choice and will be included along with the new playground equipment if possible.

Drought-resistant fescue blend sod was the preferred water-saving landscape option and will be used in the lower traffic areas towards the northeast and southwest of Noble Park, as well as Harlow Park. There was also a great deal of support for a pollinator habitat, and we will be looking at ways to incorporate this into the design.

Most area residents would like to see improved lighting along the trail, with consideration given to minimizing light pollution for the surrounding residents.

The tree removals associated with the water and gas utility installation were also a concern, with many respondents emphasizing their importance for shade, privacy, wildlife shelter, and wind buffering. While the removal of trees is necessary for the utility installation, we will be planting a number of replacement trees within the park and will endeavor to preserve the natural look and feel of the area.

The trail in the park will be a 3 metre wide paved trail.


First draft of the conceptual drawing

Based on the survey results, the project team has developed an initial conceptual drawing. Feedback from the neighbourhood was collected on the conceptual design (via an open house and a survey). You can read the What We Heard report here. This report details the comments received from the neighbourhood on the first conceptual drawing as well as the project team's response to some of the questions and concerns brought forward.


Revised conceptual drawing

The revised conceptual design design for Harlow and Noble Parks takes into consideration all feedback received from both surveys and the open house event. This design was either supported or accepted by the majority of the neighborhood. This one page document summarizes feedback important to this conceptual design.


Final conceptual drawing

Environmental Utilities (EU) has tendered the project for the utility/park restoration project. This includes the final conceptual design that was recently shared with you for feedback. The final design was either supported or accepted by the majority of the neighborhood.

We have incorporated the community’s diverse views and ideas regarding the restoration of both parks and hope that we have found an acceptable balance in the updated design. Feedback from the final conceptual design from late February 2025 is compiled here. Please review this detailed information to learn more about the project in your neighbourhood.

Our engagements revealed a neighbourhood vision of a restored park that maintains the current feeling of a natural, tucked away space. We also heard that most of the community would prefer a replacement playground with a natural look as well as a shaded seating area.


For community members who are keen to see a seasonal rink and/or basketball court in Harlow, we encourage you to reach out to your newly formed Harlow Neighbourhood Association (through Harlow's private Facebook group).

The Parks & Recreation department has a process where community can request an amenity. Details on this process can be found here. The first step would be determining potential locations where support for the amenity exists from the surrounding households. There are a few potential sites, and we are keen to learn from the neighbourhood where a rink or court would be supported! We encourage you to connect with your brand-new Neighbourhood Association if this interests you and you would like to assist in finding a supported location for the amenities you would like to see.


Parks & Recreation's goals

Your feedback will help us to deliver a park that provides the best balance between the City's goals and your vision of the park as the primary users.

These goals make up our upgrade philosophy for parks around the city:

  1. maintaining fiscal responsibility,
  2. reducing the amount of water required for park irrigation,
  3. increasing park utilization,
  4. and improving accessibility.


Who is involved

This is a project page for the Harlow and Noble Park neighbourhood as well as any additional users of the park. To receive project updates, please email participate@medicinehat.ca or sign up here.


The actions we hope to take together

Read through the materials on this page to fully inform yourself about the project

Use the tools we provide to share your input

Show up online or in person to build a park we believe in

Appreciate the need for compromise to move forward as a community

Agree to engage in a constructive way

We will be evaluating our engagement process. We are open to feedback along the way as we work through this together. You may email participate@medicinehat.ca(External link) with any comments or concerns.


How can you influence this project

We want to hear from you! Please keep in mind that we are balancing feedback from all local residents who participate in this project. Your input will help us discover the most popular ideas for the park!

  1. Share what activities you enjoy and where they happen in the park. This will guide us in placing trails, turf, trees, and drought-resistant landscaping options.

  2. Tell us your preferences for alternative landscaping options. This will help us understand neighbourhood preferences for drought resistant alternative landscaping options (in addition to turf) as well as the best locations for this type of landscaping.

  3. Select an amenity to replace the existing playground. The information you provide will help us to determine which of the four amenity options is most supported.

  4. Give us your thoughts on park lighting. Lighting impacts everyone differently. Your input will help us create a lighting solution that suits your community's needs.


How can you get involved?

This project has been tendered and construction will begin in the spring.

About the project

As residents of the Harlow & Noble area, we are asking for your input in developing a concept for the upcoming restoration of your neighbourhood parks!

As you may know, new water and gas lines will be installed through Harlow & Noble parks in 2025. This necessary work will address aging infrastructure, improve the water distribution system's resiliency, and minimize the likelihood of future service disruptions to residents in the area.

This project requires the excavation of large areas in both parks and will unfortunately result in the removal of approximately 40 trees. We are exploring options for replacing some of the trees within the parks; however, we cannot replant trees in the area above the newly installed utility lines, as the roots can damage the pipes over time, leading to costly repairs and interruptions in your or your neighbors’ utility services. Additionally, trees can complicate and delay critical repairs during unplanned outages. Tree removal will begin on or around January 7th and will be completed by March 1st.

In addition to the restoration work, we are taking this opportunity to remove the aging Noble playground structure and replace it with a new feature amenity. Whether it's a new playground, or something completely different, we want your input on the future of your park. Here is a map showing the location of nearby playgrounds.

The first survey asked residents of the Harlow neighbourhood their preference and support for the four amenity options listed as well as other questions related to the project elements below.


First survey results

Read the results of the first survey here. The results of this survey indicate that a playground replacement is the community's preference. A seating and shade area was also a popular choice and will be included along with the new playground equipment if possible.

Drought-resistant fescue blend sod was the preferred water-saving landscape option and will be used in the lower traffic areas towards the northeast and southwest of Noble Park, as well as Harlow Park. There was also a great deal of support for a pollinator habitat, and we will be looking at ways to incorporate this into the design.

Most area residents would like to see improved lighting along the trail, with consideration given to minimizing light pollution for the surrounding residents.

The tree removals associated with the water and gas utility installation were also a concern, with many respondents emphasizing their importance for shade, privacy, wildlife shelter, and wind buffering. While the removal of trees is necessary for the utility installation, we will be planting a number of replacement trees within the park and will endeavor to preserve the natural look and feel of the area.

The trail in the park will be a 3 metre wide paved trail.


First draft of the conceptual drawing

Based on the survey results, the project team has developed an initial conceptual drawing. Feedback from the neighbourhood was collected on the conceptual design (via an open house and a survey). You can read the What We Heard report here. This report details the comments received from the neighbourhood on the first conceptual drawing as well as the project team's response to some of the questions and concerns brought forward.


Revised conceptual drawing

The revised conceptual design design for Harlow and Noble Parks takes into consideration all feedback received from both surveys and the open house event. This design was either supported or accepted by the majority of the neighborhood. This one page document summarizes feedback important to this conceptual design.


Final conceptual drawing

Environmental Utilities (EU) has tendered the project for the utility/park restoration project. This includes the final conceptual design that was recently shared with you for feedback. The final design was either supported or accepted by the majority of the neighborhood.

We have incorporated the community’s diverse views and ideas regarding the restoration of both parks and hope that we have found an acceptable balance in the updated design. Feedback from the final conceptual design from late February 2025 is compiled here. Please review this detailed information to learn more about the project in your neighbourhood.

Our engagements revealed a neighbourhood vision of a restored park that maintains the current feeling of a natural, tucked away space. We also heard that most of the community would prefer a replacement playground with a natural look as well as a shaded seating area.


For community members who are keen to see a seasonal rink and/or basketball court in Harlow, we encourage you to reach out to your newly formed Harlow Neighbourhood Association (through Harlow's private Facebook group).

The Parks & Recreation department has a process where community can request an amenity. Details on this process can be found here. The first step would be determining potential locations where support for the amenity exists from the surrounding households. There are a few potential sites, and we are keen to learn from the neighbourhood where a rink or court would be supported! We encourage you to connect with your brand-new Neighbourhood Association if this interests you and you would like to assist in finding a supported location for the amenities you would like to see.


Parks & Recreation's goals

Your feedback will help us to deliver a park that provides the best balance between the City's goals and your vision of the park as the primary users.

These goals make up our upgrade philosophy for parks around the city:

  1. maintaining fiscal responsibility,
  2. reducing the amount of water required for park irrigation,
  3. increasing park utilization,
  4. and improving accessibility.


Who is involved

This is a project page for the Harlow and Noble Park neighbourhood as well as any additional users of the park. To receive project updates, please email participate@medicinehat.ca or sign up here.


The actions we hope to take together

Read through the materials on this page to fully inform yourself about the project

Use the tools we provide to share your input

Show up online or in person to build a park we believe in

Appreciate the need for compromise to move forward as a community

Agree to engage in a constructive way

We will be evaluating our engagement process. We are open to feedback along the way as we work through this together. You may email participate@medicinehat.ca(External link) with any comments or concerns.


How can you influence this project

We want to hear from you! Please keep in mind that we are balancing feedback from all local residents who participate in this project. Your input will help us discover the most popular ideas for the park!

  1. Share what activities you enjoy and where they happen in the park. This will guide us in placing trails, turf, trees, and drought-resistant landscaping options.

  2. Tell us your preferences for alternative landscaping options. This will help us understand neighbourhood preferences for drought resistant alternative landscaping options (in addition to turf) as well as the best locations for this type of landscaping.

  3. Select an amenity to replace the existing playground. The information you provide will help us to determine which of the four amenity options is most supported.

  4. Give us your thoughts on park lighting. Lighting impacts everyone differently. Your input will help us create a lighting solution that suits your community's needs.


How can you get involved?

This project has been tendered and construction will begin in the spring.
  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Harlow & Noble Park - Survey

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  • Harlow & Noble Park Contact List - Sign up

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Page last updated: 19 Mar 2025, 04:42 PM