TAMRMS#: B05
8.1
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Park and Trail Wayfinding
Notice given by: Councillor Killick
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BUDGET POSTPONED MOTION:
recommendation
That Park and trail wayfinding be deleted from the 10 Year Growth Plan.
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Administration’s Understanding of the Intent of the Motion:
That the Park and Trail Wayfinding project charter not be added to the 10 Year Growth Plan.
SUMMARY
• St. Albert has over 120km of recreational trails.
• As the City grows so does the length and complexity of the trail network.
• St. Albert has never developed a City wide approach to trail wayfinding system in place to support safe, effective and enjoyable navigation of its trail system, by residents and visitors.
• Developing a trail wayfinding strategy will provide a coordinated and effective way to help residents and visitors safely and effectively navigate both the existing and future trail network.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
N/A
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Wayfinding is an important consideration of any facility or system serving to provide consistent information on location, amenities, travel distances, routes, and access points. Optimally, wayfinding is provided through different media such as signage, print material, or digital. This helps people to plan their movements, find supportive amenities, and it enhances accessibility, safety and security.
Our trail system provides residents and visitors with an opportunity to travel through St. Albert, connecting them to parks, cultural spaces, commercial opportunities, services and each other. There are approximately 120km of trails within our mobility network, and as the city grows, so does the trail system. However, we have not developed guidelines or standards that can be used to provide effective wayfinding across our trail system.
Our current trail system map was developed in 2015 to support running throughout the city (see Attachment: 2015 Running Map). Between 2017 and 2022, Administration updated park signage standards and replaced existing park signage. In 2022, preparing for future trail related work, Administration conducted an audit of existing trail signage. The audit identified a variety of education, commemorative, regulatory and etiquette signage. Few examples of limited wayfinding were identified along sections of the Red Willow Trail and within Erin Ridge.
Trails are an effective way of ensuring the Community Well-being of St. Albertans and visitors. To this end, residents consistently identify parks and trails as primary contributor to their high quality of life. With the final sections of the Red Willow Trail loop (Ray Gibbon Drive to Kingswood Park) scheduled for completion in 2026, investing in a systematic approach trail wayfinding will help to ensure residents and visitors stay safe and connected as they navigate our trail system to meet their recreational and mobility needs.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
Internal and external actors will be consulted in the development of the wayfinding strategy.
IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial:
None at this time.
Compliance & Legal:
None at this time.
Program or Service:
None at this time.
Organizational:
None at this time.
Risks
Not advancing this work negatively impacts residents' ability to use and enjoy the parks and trail system. It may also further support ad hoc wayfinding efforts which may frustrate system users, enable continued ad hoc, and ultimately less effective, effort to address wayfinding, and negatively impact safety and security of trail users.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
None at this time.
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY
None at this time.
Attachment 1: City of St. Albert Running Map (2015)
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Report Date: May 6, 2025
Author(s): Craig Cameron, Manager, Parks & Community Partnerships
Department: Recreation & Parks
Department Director: Daniele Podlubny
Managing Director: Dinu Alex
Chief Administrative Officer: William Fletcher