The importance of ponds and pathways in communities

Whether it’s the height of summer or a blustery winter day, community ponds and the pathways surrounding them are a perfect way to bring nature into neighbourhoods.

Providing an idyllic space for shared recreation, these winding paths that usually encircle an aesthetically designed storm pond is a source of relaxation and community building. Joggers, bikers, dog walkers all share this outdoor amenity that has become a prerequisite in Calgary’s new neighbourhoods. But there’s more to them than just that.

Many of Calgary’s land developers know the importance of these storm ponds and pathways and they are among the first amenities to be built in the birth of a new community. The community storm pond, for the most part, is a necessity where rainwater is directed to slow the flow of water to the creeks and rivers and prevent overland flooding. It also acts as a filter to prevent sediment from reaching vital waterways. The pathways built around them are landscaped to provide residents a soothing escape from the hectic urban life.

“Ponds and pathways enhance aesthetics in the community” says Qualico Communities Marketing Manager, Monica Bilyk. “They encourage outdoor activities and promote ecological balance. Ponds can serve as tranquil water features, attract local wildlife and foster a calming environment, while pathways provide safe, accessible spaces for walking, jogging or cycling, fostering a strong sense of community cohesion and health-conscious living.”

Rohit Group believes ponds and pathways are essential in developing a community. “We believe ponds and pathways are key amenity features that help enhance the beauty of a community, providing a serene landscape for residents to enjoy,” says Rohit Division Marketing Manager, Daisy Lieu.

“Residents can walk, jog, and run promoting physical activity and mental wellness,” she adds. “It is also a great place to bring the community together, connecting with neighbours, as a central spot to meet for social interaction. We also believe that well-maintained ponds and pathways can enhance properties and those lots or homes near these features become more desirable and sought after.”

Apex Developments also puts a lot of thought in designing their communities around these features.
“Our ponds and pathways are a huge part of our communities,” says Apex Development Coordinator, Michelle Wilken.” Our pathways offer opportunities to explore nearby areas while enjoying some fresh air and exercise.”

Calgary’s regional pathway

Calgary has a big advantage when it comes to regional pathways, as it is home to the Rotary/Mattamy Greenway. This one-of-a-kind regional pathway system is linked to walking paths of many individual communities giving everyone the opportunity to walk, or bike around the city. It is the ring road of Calgary’s pathway system.

Development for the $50 million Rotary/Mattamy Greenway began in 2009, and today it is a 145-kilometre urban pathway system that encircles the entire City of Calgary. This major pathway transportation network serves Calgarians by providing a connected system throughout 55 communities around Calgary and also connects with almost 1,000 kilometres of existing pathways. The pathways can be used to commute to work or for free recreation activities all year round.

The importance of storm ponds

According to the City of Calgary, the storm ponds that the newer communities feature hold an important function: they collect and hold rainfall and snowmelt before it reaches rivers, creeks, and streams.

According to the City’s storm pond safety website, this runoff collects sediment and pollutants (e.g. bacteria, fertilizers, pesticides, vehicle fluids, metals, road salt) as it travels across properties, streets, and roads.

“By capturing and holding stormwater for a period of time, storm ponds allow sediments to settle out and provide some treatment for pollutants. The water is then slowly released to our rivers, creeks, and streams,” it says. ‘Slowing the speed and reducing the sediments and pollutants helps keep our rivers, creeks, and streams healthier.”

Designing community storm ponds

A lot of work goes into the design of a storm pond. It has a practical function to fulfill, and a major influence on the look and feel of the community itself.

The size of the storm pond is determined by several factors, says Mike Anderson, Senior Development Manager with Qualico Communities. “The biggest factor in sizing is the catchment area (how many acres of storm water are being collected by this pond). Every project will have several existing or future conditions that dictate how big the storm pond will be,” he tells Calgary New Home + Condo Guide.

“Additionally, the release rate of the pond will also determine the size. The release rate is the flow of water that can be released from the pond at a given time. The ponds release back into the surrounding creeks and back to the Bow River. All of these factors are discussed and analyzed throughout the planning process and land use is assigned to the required pond area at that time.”

Nolan Frese, Senior Project Manager for Rohit’s communities of Heartland in Cochrane and the new Heartwood in southeast Calgary, expresses much the same sentiment.

“We assess the stormwater retention criteria for current and future phases within the development of the community. The City of Calgary plays a significant role in reviewing and approving these processes. The storm ponds are designed to accommodate all stormwater generated by the development area,” he says.

Apex does a lot of the same grunt work in designing their ponds and accompanying pathways, with the aim of benefiting their residents. The pond and pathways along Carrington South community in the northwest are much loved and has become a relaxing four-season recreational haven for its residents.

“A lot of work goes in to planning pathways and storm ponds in our communities and we feel these are important features that need to be incorporated to ensure our communities are some of the most desirable communities in the City,” Wilkens says. “More and more we see homeowners getting out enjoying and taking pride the community they live in.”

Dawson’s Landing’s kidney ponds

Qualico has gone above and beyond the usual design of storm ponds with a truly unique water feature in its popular community of Dawson’s Landing in Chestermere.

“Dawson’s Landing was the first residential development in the World to implement a Stormwater Kidney™. The system cleans stormwater by circulating the water through spaces with a diverse ecosystem of plants and aquatic creatures so that nutrients contained in the stormwater nourish the living organisms,” Bilyk says.

“Ultimately, the storm pond is designed to treat storm water collected from the catchment area to a level that it can be returned to the rivers/creeks,” Anderson adds. “The areas around a storm pond can have a variety of amenities and is project dependent. As an example, the ponds built in Dawson’s Landing were used as a selling feature of the community and a part of the vision.” This has led to several additional amenities that are not seen in some of their other storm ponds, he adds.

Keeping storm ponds healthy and safe

Storm ponds are not like regular ponds. They collect runoff to protect communities from overland flooding and help clean water before returning it to the river. Any recreational activity on or in these ponds is not safe and is strictly prohibited under the Stormwater Bylaw. Additional safety warnings include:

• Maintain your yard and property to reduce runoff and prevent pollutants from washing into the street and entering the stormwater system.

• Never release fish (e.g. goldfish or Prussian carp) into storm ponds. Take them to the pet store or give them away. After your fish passes on don’t flush it. Bury it or dispose of it in the garbage to prevent the spread of disease.

• Don’t remove, cut or prune of any vegetation in or around the ponds or you may be fined.

• Pick up after your pet.

Source: City of Calgary. Calgary.ca