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W I L L O W P A R K N A T U R A L A R E A
The Willow Park Natural Area is home to a variety of birds, nesting waterfowl, small wildlife and native plants, shrubs and trees. In 2009, the Town of Stony Plain designated the area as an urban natural reserve.
The Town also uses this area as a naturalized method of improving and enhancing storm water run-off water quality. Regular maintenance involves inspections of the pond and upkeep of the area, including removal of trash and debris, weed management and ensuring the integrity of the pond structure.
Please help protect the biodiversity of this delicate and important ecosystem, which provides significant benefits to our community.
Please treat the Natural Area with respect. • Please stay on designated trails.
• No unauthorized vehicles, open fires or overnight camping.
• Do not litter. Please use garbage receptacles.
• Injuring, removing or damaging any plants, birds, nesting waterfowl or wildlife is prohibited.
Welcome!
Willow Park Natural Area Boundary
Trail
Stream Course #2
Drainage Ditch
Existing Treed Area
Storm Pond Low Water Level
Storm Pond High Water Level
780.963.2151 stonyplain.com
W I L L O W P A R K N A T U R A L A R E A
Parkland CountyTransfer Station
ParklandCounty Centre
Emergency Services
Public Works
County Office
Meridian Sports Park
79th AVENUE - SH 628
Westerra BoulevardWes
terr
a C
ou
rt
Westerra Way
Hillside Way
HeartwoodClose
High ParkClose
High ParkPlace
Highridge Way
Hig
h P
ark
Ro
ad
Harmony Court
Har
mo
ny
Cr
Har
mo
ny
Cr
Har
vest
Bay
Ham
pto
n P
lace
Will
ow
by
Clo
se
Willow W
ay
Will
ow
ben
d
Co
urt
Willowbend Place
Willow Park
Road
Fairway Drive
Fairway Green Au
gu
sta Fairway
Cr
Fairway
Belfr
y Cr
Fairway Dr
La Co
sta Fairway B
ou
nd
ary
Road
- RR
275
Graybriar Dr
Graywood Cove
Grayrid
ge Bay
Briarwo
od
Way
Graybriar Cr
Briarwood Point
HIGHWAY 16A
Sou
th P
ark
Dr
Bro
okv
iew
Way
37th
St
St. Andrews
St. Andrews St
St. A
nd
rew
s C
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dre
ws
Dr
St. A
nd
rew
s D
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Boulder Boulevard
Go
lf C
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rse
Ro
ad
Granite Drive
Bo
uld
er B
ou
leva
rd
Wood Avenue
DerekDrive M
add
i Mea
do
ws
47th
St 57th Ave
45th
St
57th Ave
55th Ave
54th Ave
47th
St
47th
St
46th
St
Wh
isp
erin
g C
ove
Garden Valley Dr
Oatway Drive
Ro
sen
thal
Dr
CampbellCr West
CampbellCr East
Campbell
DriveGloryHills Cr
GoldenSpike Cr
Glo
ry
Dr
Hill
s
Go
lden
Spik
e Rd
53rd Ave
Oatway Dr
45th
St
Um
bach
Rd
Umbach Rd
Cavanagh CrLundyPark
Rd
McNabb Cr
Go
lf C
ou
rse
Rd
- RR
280
Brightbank Ave
52nd Ave
50th Ave
50 A Ave
51st Ave
Brow
n St
49th Ave
Folkstone Place
50th Ave
51st Ave
52nd Ave
53rd Ave
54th Ave
55th Ave
52n
d S
t
51st
St
50th
St
55th Ave
48th
Str
eet
/ SH
779
/ F
ifth
Mer
idia
n
MA
IN S
TREE
T
49th
St
55th A Ave
49th
St
56th Ave
51st
St
Gle
nfo
rest
Cr
Glenview Cr
Glenhall Cr Glenrose Cr
Glendale Cr
57th Ave
50th
St
Glenmanor CrGlenwood CrHeritage Cr
HeritageTerrace H
erit
age
Poin
t
47th Ave
45th
St
45th Ave
47th
St
44th
St
44th Ave44th Ave
50th
St
43rd Ave
43rd
St
42nd Ave
40th Ave
42n
d S
t
44th
St
45th
St
41st Ave
43rd Ave
46th
St
Ab
erd
een
Way
AberdeenPlace
Aberdeen Way
Rosenthal Way
Rose
nth
al W
ay
Ro
sen
thal
Ro
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Stony CreekPoin
t
Aberdeen
Cr
Hendrie Drive
Wes
terr
a Ba
yW
este
rra
Ben
d
Wes
terr
a Li
nk
WesterraKey
Westerra
Place
Westerra Dr
Westerra DrW
esterra Cr
Westerra Terrace
Westerra
Wes
terra
Driv
e
Drive
Westerra Close
Willowbrook Pointe
Willow Lane
Willow dale Place
Country Way
Country Lane
Blac
kmoo
rFa
irw
ays
Clo
se
Bria
rwoo
dFa
irw
ayC
lose
Way
Briarwo
od
Jutland Cr
44th Ave
46th Ave
43rd Ave
33
31st
St
rd S
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Leg
end
Trai
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idia
n R
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44th AveMeridian Loop
Mer
idia
n C
lose
Rge
Rd
11
Rge
Rd
11,
Glo
ry H
ills
Ro
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GlenM
eme’
s
Krystal’sLane
Mitch’sTerrace
Gilda’s Cove
Dan’s Estate
Bob’s WayJohn’s Trail
WayGrampy’s
Gennieve
Poin
t
Westerra Point
Briarwood
Village
No
rth
Par
k D
r35
th S
t
HillaryPlace
HendriePlace
BrookviewPlace
Brookview
Way
Greenbriar
Place
Close
Close
Rotary Trail
Ave
Cre
eksi
de
Poin
t
41st Ave
51st
Ave
ATIM
CRE
EK
28th
St
Graybriar Greens
Copp
erhe
adPl
ace
Eagl
erid
gePo
int
StonehovenSton
egate
Willow Wood Lane
49th
St
42nd Ave
Silverstone Dr
Silverston
e
Way
Silverstone Cr
Sou
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reek DrSo
uth
Creek
Wyn
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South Creek Point
Fairway Terrace
Fairway
Co
urt
Westerra Bend
Wes
terr
a A
ve
HW
Y 7
79
49th Ave
NORTHBUSINESS
PARK
MERIDIANMEADOWS
HERITAGEESTATES
MERIDIAN HEIGHTS
SOUTH BUSINESS PARK
HOMESTEADS
GRAYBRIAR
FAIRWAYSFORESTGREEN
SOUTHRIDGE
HIGH PARK
WOODLANDS
LAKE WESTERRAESTATES
COUNTRY PLAINSESTATES
THE GLENS
Egerland Place
Heritage Court
WILLOWPARK
ROSENTHALESTATES
TO ROSENTHAL ESTATES - 4 KM
N
UMBACHBUSINESS
PARK
BROOKVIEW
GENESISON THELAKES
CREEKSIDE
JUTLANDRIDGE
CEDAR BRAE
SOUTH CREEK
SUNRISEVILLAGE
LEGEND TRAIL
SILVERSTONE
SANDSTONE
ST. ANDREW’S
MERIDIANCOVE
OLDTOWN
OLD TOWN NORTH
STONYCREEK
WESTERRA MANOR
BRICKYARD
GOERTZBUSINESS
PARK
SOMMERVILLE
HERITAGEPARK
CRYSTALBUSINESS
CENTRE
SUNMEADOWS
Gen
esis
Dri
ve
Genesis Lake Blvd
Genesis Wynd
Parks & Open Spaces
Golf course
Trails
Stony Plain Trail Network
780.963.2151 stonyplain.com
W I L L O W P A R K N A T U R A L A R E A
Trees and brush in the Willow Park Natural Area range from young seedlings to those that have taken decades to grow. The greater the variety of species, the more stable and healthy the ecosystem is and the better it is able to support life. Trees and brush provide water retention, shade, shelter and protection for a diversity of birds, small wildlife, flowers and other plants - including the Alberta Wild Rose, wild raspberries and fireweed.
Dead trees provide nourishment, shelter and homes for various species. As insects feed on deadfall, they decompose the trees’ tissue into rich soil and nutrients for the next generation of trees and plants. We can help protect this ecosystem by being careful where we walk and leaving plants and flowers for others to enjoy.
Woodlot
780.963.2151 stonyplain.com
W I L L O W P A R K N A T U R A L A R E A
Native grasses provide food and shelter for a wide variety of birds, animals and insects. Birds use grasses for their nests and to camouflage nesting parents and their young. As the grasses mature, the seeds provide food for hatchlings and for birds that spend winter here. These grasses also provide shelter and food for small rodents, who, in turn, become food for birds of prey or wildlife.
The boundary between the water and the grasses is especially sensitive. Species moving between these regions use both areas for shelter and food. Please help protect this fragile ecosystem by staying on designated paths.
Grassland
780.963.2151 stonyplain.com
W I L L O W P A R K N A T U R A L A R E A
Abundant, clean water is essential for all life. Although many organisms within this storm water pond are not visible to the human eye, they provide essential food and oxygen for a very complex ecosystem.
Garbage, fertilizers and pesticides contaminate organisms at the base of the food chain, affecting the ability of other organisms and nesting waterfowl to survive. Help protect this pond by cleaning up garbage in the area and watching birds, waterfowl and animals from a distance. Use binoculars – you’re sure to see some action!
Aquatic
780.963.2151 stonyplain.com
W I L L O W P A R K N A T U R A L A R E A
Unauthorized vehicles in the Willow Park Natural Area can harass nesting waterfowl and wildlife and can cause vegetation damage and destroy native habitat and biodiversity.
Thank you for your cooperation.
For more information, please contact the Town of Stony Plain.
No Unauthorized Motor Vehicles
780.963.2151 stonyplain.com
W I L L O W P A R K N A T U R A L A R E A
Many beautiful native plant species, unique to the climate and soil conditions of the region, grow in the Willow Park Natural Area, but these ecosystems are threatened. Often mistaken for wildflowers, alien plant species are spreading through the ecosystem. Free from their natural ‘enemies,’ non-native plants can out-compete native plants for space, moisture and nutrients.
When invasive plants enter an ecosystem, they can disrupt natural balance, reduce biodiversity, degrade habitats, alter native genetic diversity, transmit diseases to native species and jeopardize plants, birds and wildlife. The Town works hard to keep invasive plants under control, so they do not take over and dominate the landscape.
The Town monitors and controls weeds and invasive species using mechanical, biological or herbicidal controls. Mechanical weed control involves pulling or cutting weeds with special equipment.
Photo: Common Tansy (invasive plant)
Invasive Plants
780.963.2151 stonyplain.com
W I L L O W P A R K N A T U R A L A R E A
Storm water ponds help safeguard water quality by collecting and treating storm water run-off and protect against flooding. Run-off is conveyed to storm water ponds by a combination of overland flow, ditches, swales and underground pipes. Once run-off reaches the pond, the sediment settles to the bottom. The water that enters as polluted run-off leaves the pond gradually through an outfall structure, resulting in cleaner water entering the receiving creeks, rivers or other water systems.
Well-designed and maintained storm water ponds help reduce the amount of non-point source pollutants that reach our waterways. Well-managed, these ponds serve as a community amenity and provide habitat for a variety of birds, vegetation and small wildlife. A vegetated buffer of native plants along the fringe of the pond attracts wading birds, nesting waterfowl, turtles and small wildlife. Vegetation along the banks also makes the area more attractive.
Aquatic plants are essential to the balance in the storm water pond ecosystem; however, without proper management, these plants become unsightly and degrade the overall quality of the pond. If not adequately maintained, storm water ponds can become an eyesore, breed mosquitoes and create odours.
The Town of Stony Plain conducts regular maintenance of this pond and its immediate surroundings, including removal of trash and debris, monitoring aquatic plant growth, assessment and control of weeds and invasive plants and ensuring the integrity of the pond’s structure. Regular maintenance, annual inspections and periodic dredging are necessary for proper pond management and to ensure an attractive environment for the community and a long storm water pond life.
Storm Water Ponds
780.963.2151 stonyplain.com
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