Amongst the various parks around Calgary, these five parks offer some of the best scenery available in the city. Infographic by Aiden Dolan.

The great outdoors has always been one of the best ways to break stress and boredom.

The thrill of exploration and fresh air invites a sense of calm in a person’s life that reaches beyond the menial tasks of work or school daily.

Whether you love to bike, run or simply take an afternoon stroll, city parks are some of the best places to enjoy suburbia beyond the boring grey buildings and avenues.

One city that provides an excellent source of entertainment, like many other cities; is Calgary.

Home to over 1.6 million people, it’s no surprise that there are many amazing locations to partake in nature much closer to home than the mountains.

Here is a list of some of the best local parks in Calgary to explore and enjoy all year round.

5. Central Memorial Park

Starting off the list with Calgary’s oldest park, Central Memorial was founded in 1912 within the modern Beltline neighbourhood.

This quaint, Victorian era themed park that contains beautiful fountains, elaborate statues and a historical library to make this park feel straight out of a movie.

Being directly downtown, Central Memorial Park provides busy employees a nice place to relax on break, or a wonderful stop for those who are eager to see Calgary up close.

Cole Haberlack, a Calgary-based post secondary and self-proclaimed outdoorsman, says he loves this park punches above its weight class despite its small size.

“I love exploring, so seeing this park right downtown is neat. It’s usually pretty quiet, and it just has this cool vibe in the summer even though it’s quite small. It’s for sure one of my favourite spots when I’m downtown for any reason.”

Central Memorial Park continues to be a great representation of historical significance within the fast-growing concrete jungle that is Calgary.

4. St. Patrick’s Island Park

Located along the bow river, St. Patrick’s Island is one of the newest editions to Calgary’s recognized parks.

Extensive redevelopment in 2015 has given this island turned park all new hiking paths, public art installations, playgrounds and so much more including a beach area.

This wonderful little spot is directly connected to the Calgary Zoo and has much to offer for explorers and outdoor hobbyists alike, with accessible proximity to Calgary’s East Village residential area.

Another amazing feature of the park is the fantastic views that it provides of the city skyline at sunset in the summer months.

Cole Haberlack voiced his thoughts on the park.

“I’ve only been to this one once, but I remember it being memorable. You can walk from one end of the river to the other and use St. Patrick’s island as a stopping point to just explore and see. It’s a super cool edition to that area, and I’m happy they made it look as nice as it does now.”

St. Patrick’s island continues to prove to be a popular destination for cyclists and joggers because of its state-of-the-art pathway system for all to enjoy.

3. Edworthy Park

Located on the western end of the city and far away from the downtown core, Edworthy Park has been a staple within Calgary for decades.

The park itself hugs the hill trail that overlooks the Bow River valley below, providing park goers with beautiful sights and scenery to enjoy.

The park also contains a 169-hectare garden made up of diverse wildflowers and plant life that bring colour and make the park feel even more special that it already is.

This park is a great place to spend a few hours hiking, as well as a wonderful spot to bask in the river below amongst the shallow banks that flank the edge of the park itself.

Jada Newhook, a Lethbridge native currently attending the University of Calgary says she has enjoyed spending time at Edworthy Park during the fall and spring months.

“Coming to Calgary, I had always heard good things about exploring and seeing different areas of the city. Edworthy was one of the first places I went to with some greenery, and I really enjoy going back every year before and after the winter season starts.”

One of the more iconic parks in Calgary, Edworthy remains as a popular destination for those who want to venture a little farther from downtown Calgary.

2. Prince’s Island Park

Perhaps one of the most iconic parks within the city, Prince’s Island Park remains a staple for new and existing Calgarians who love to be outside.

Located just north of downtown, the park features an annual folk music festival in the summer months, as well as a ice sculpture public art display and skating rink amenities in the colder months in and around the island parks’ lagoon.

Connected by a series of bridges, the park is very accessible to walkers and cyclists coming from any direction making the island park a very popular destination and foot traffic area in the summer months.

Jada Newhook adds her thoughts on the park and its many available activities.

“I remember visiting this park when I was younger when we would go to Calgary in the summer. The amount of people playing games or just hanging out in the shade always gave it a really cool vibe to me, and it still always feels that way no matter what time of year I visit.”

Remaining as a consistent tourist and local gem, Prince’s Island Park is a wonderful example of the nature hidden within the city waiting to be explored.

1. River Park

Located 10 minutes south of downtown, River Park is one of the most hidden gem parks in the entire city.

Placed on top of a hill above the banks of the Elbow River, River Park offers some amazing local views and wonderful atmosphere.

The park itself is nestled between the two beautiful communities of Altadore and Brittania, providing a wonderful space for locals of each respective community to enjoy a bit of nature around them.

This park is small but attaches to a large pathway system that expands the potential of the park in multiple directions.

Cole Haberlack explains why this park is ultimately a favourite of his within the city.

“I would say River Park is my favourite. There are more well-known parks in Calgary, but this one is so great because not many people know about it. I also live just down the block, so it makes my day so much more enjoyable getting to walk to this park everyday and enjoy every aspect of it from a community perspective.”

River Park continually shines as an underrated beacon within Calgary’s parks and provides a wonderful area to explore beyond the park boundaries itself.

Truly a notable standout amongst all other parks within Calgary.