Silvercreek Skatepark - Guelph, ON - Caravaggio, Sam

Silvercreek Skatepark - Guelph, ON - Caravaggio, Sam - Local Landscape Report

Image by Sam Caravaggio.

ABSTRACT

Guelph's long-anticipated Silvercreek skatepark is located at the intersection of Wellington Road and Edinburgh Road South. The skatepark is uniquely placed, finding itself tucked into a riparian corridor as it runs parallel with the bank of the Grand River, which accounts for its distinctive linear shape. The park was constructed by New Line Skateparks in 2016, it offers a fair variety of both transition and street features for its riders.

The skatepark occupies the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek and Mississauga of the Credit First Nation Peoples. In 1792, the Between the Lakes Purchase No. 3 Treaty saw the Mississauga of the Credit First Nations hand over 3,000,000 acres of land to the British Crown. As part of the return in Treaty No. 3 and the Haldimand Proclamation of 1784, the Mississauga of the Credit First Nations received six miles of land on either side of the Grand River, which includes the exact location of the skatepark today. Fast forward to 1903, this location became home to a rival brewing company stemming out from members of the Sleeman family, operating under the name Spring Bank Brewery. The Sleeman family faced many challenges from prohibition to not paying their taxes, and the brewery was eventually sold in 1933. Come 1957, the singular bridge pictured over the Grand River was constructed and the river was modified. This location was originally known as The Three Bridges, as the water channeled in three separate ways underneath Edinburgh Road. By the 1960s, the site location was deemed as Silvercreek Recreational Park, walking trails and spaces for leisure were constructed, and all of the vegetation was decimated.

Now in 2020, the city of Guelph has finally received its skatepark that so many residents have been demanding for years. It joins many other recreational spaces among the vernacular landscape of Silvercreek Park, including walking trails, baseball diamonds, soccer fields, and the surrounding vegetation of the riparian corridor has flourished once again.

LOCATION INFORMATION

Municipality: Guelph

Local area name: Silvercreek Skatepark.

Other identifying names or descriptions: Specifically focusing on the area of Silvercreek Recreational Park surrounding the intersection of Wellington Road and Edinburgh Road.

Latitude and longitude: 43.5333302, -80.2546238.

Physical Dimensions of Skatepark:

Length: 73 m

Width: 19 m (Average)

Surface Area: 1387 m2

Physical Dimensions of total landscape being observed:

Length: 198 m

Width: 50 m

Surface Area: 9450 m2

Elevation:

Highest: 314 m (Edinburgh Road bridge)

Lowest: 303 m (River Bank)

Skatepark: 304.5 m average

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF SILVERCREEK SKATEPARK

The local landscape that is being observed throughout this report can be understood as a sectioned off piece of land that is part of the greater Silvercreek recreational park system, which runs through a suburban area of Guelph parallel to the Grand River. More specifically, this report will analyze the landscape of the Silvercreek Skatepark, and the riparian corridor it neighbours up until the Edinburgh Road bridge. Silvercreek skatepark is a unique vernacular landscape that incorporates aspects of urban development, while also demonstrating the importance of recreation, leisure, and exercise, all in close proximity to nature (Hough 12). The riparian corridor that spans the edge of the skatepark and the bank of the Grand River is a flourishing ecosystem providing beneficial habitats for a wide range of plant and animal species, and it also functions to provide shade and an element of climate control to the skatepark. The landscape also features two recreational walking trails that extend throughout the riparian corridor and the opposing side of the skatepark, as well as a paved parking lot to accommodate its visitors.

MAP

OBSERVED LANDSCAPE BOUNDARY

Map 1: The yellow line represents the border of the landscape that will be observed. The top right is the bridge crossing over Edinburgh Road, the Skatepark can be seen in the bottom left, and the Royal Recreation Trail can be seen beside the bank of the Grand River.

CHANGES IN LANDSCAPE OVER TIME

ECOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL FEATURES- BIOTA

The wooded riparian area surrounding Silvercreek skatepark and the Grand River is not highly developed and appears to consist of three layers. The highest layer being the canopy, consisting mainly of pine, maple, and birch trees, which control the remainder of the environment and the plant species beneath them (Hough 87). There are some middle-sized plant species in the understory, but for the most part, the wooded area is not extremely mature throughout its entirety. Depending on the season, there is a high variety of many small plant species that survive along the floor and into the understory such as honeysuckle, ferns, wildflowers, asters, and much more. The floor of the wooded area consists of naturalized plants that adapt to any human imposed condition without assistance (Hough 20), and there is a fair amount of rotting leaves, fallen tree branches, and other natural debris which decompose and recycle themselves back into the ecosystem (Hough 87).

Beyond the city core in wooded park areas, vegetation has a greater opportunity to survive (Hough 134). Once the correct vegetation and habitats are provided, more animal species begin to inhabit these areas. The Silvercreek Skatepark and surrounding riparian corridor is a perfect example of thriving vegetation and the resulting inhabitants of animal species just beyond Guelph's downtown city core. I was lucky enough to photograph a Blue Heron searching for food amongst the river of the landscape as pictured below. There are often assemblages of Mallard Ducks and other species of birds that rely on bodies of water for their habitats. All kinds of squirrels make this landscape their home, Red Squirrels, Grey Squirrels, and Chipmunks, and I was even able to photograph a Melanized Grey Squirrel running through the skatepark with a nut in its mouth. This riparian landscape is home to many birds, more common birds such as Robins, Red-Winged Black Birds, Chickadee's, all sorts of Finch's, Blue jays, Cardinals, and much more. This wooded riparian corridor is a primal habitat for all sorts of animal species.

I was unable to identify or examine any endangered plant or animal species within the landscape, but I did come across this sign stating that the area is being treated with herbicides to remove the common buckthorn plant, which poses a threat to the surrounding vegetation. The common buckthorn is considered to be an invasive plant species in Ontario which poses a threat to the surrounding vegetation and plant species by over-shading them and competing for space. Some urban landscapes often require careful maintenance to maintain the desired landscape and speed up the natural succession processes (Hough 112).

While observing figure 4 below, the Skatepark and its accommodating parking lot can be seen as large fragments of the riparian habitat that have been developed. This sort of habitat fragmentation and the loss of the natural forest would have led to decreased habitat size and the potential for loss of species diversity of both plants and animals that previously inhabited the area (Hough 110).

While observing the photographs in figure 5 below, it is possible to analyze the changes in vegetation cover that have taken place in this landscape. Using the white apartment building as a reference point, it is apparent as to how the riparian vegetation has come to flourish again since it's decimation in the late 1950s. When the area was declared a recreational park in the 1960s, all of the vegetation was wiped out. The photo in the bottom left corner is from 1975, and the rest of the photos are from the modern-day. In a fairly short amount of time, the vegetation has regenerated, and Hough provides some insight into this process of natural succession in urban woodland parks that has taken place in this riparian landscape. For example, Hough discussed how rebuilding woodland urban parks is based on principles of natural succession, allowing the wooded area to flourish on its own while applying principles of management to speed up the process (96). Hough also provides reasoning as to why urban woodland areas such as this landscape have become of high importance. Since the 1980s there have been grass-roots environmental movements that recognize places that have a high potential for plant and animal species habitats, and they have been integrated into cities planning and development strategies as the landscapes provide diverse opportunities for recreation, education, climate control (which will be discussed later in this report), and much more (94). Given that the photograph on the bottom left is from 1975, it is certainly evident that this landscape has been a product of these grass-roots environmental movements, and the landscape is definitely utilized as a unique space for recreation with the implementation of the skatepark and walking trails just behind the view of the photographs. The changes in the vegetation cover at this landscape can also be understood as an alternative to energy-intensive cultivated landscape, as over the last 50 years there has been a cooperation with the natural aspects of the landscape and natural processes, rather than a confrontation (Hough 93). Instead of continuing to destroy all of the vegetation, it has been protected and conserved, with implemented management processes as applicable.

ECOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL FEATURES - GEOMORPHOLOGY

Referring to figure 6 below, the major physical features of the landscape can be broken down into two distinct areas. The yellow border represents areas of development in which soil has been sealed beneath concrete and asphalt. The red border can be understood as mostly unmodified natural soil, with the exception of small areas that undergo mowing, specifically near the parking lot. The sealing of the landscape consisting of the skatepark and parking lot would have certainly posed implications on the riparian environment as the act of sealing destroys habitats for both fauna and flora (Wessolek 173).

Considering the natural changes in geomorphology that have occurred to this landscape over time, there are no signs of past volcanic activity, and there is no significant relation to glaciation in the form of land shaping or deposits. While considering the significance of erosion, however, the riparian area is known to prevent shoreline erosion, as the streamside vegetation provides flood control through the processes of filtering and retaining water, as well as reducing the speed of the rivers flow (Alberti 143). For the majority of this landscape's history, it has been surrounded by riparian vegetation, which explains the lack of erosion on the site.

Skateparks are unique landscapes that require manipulation of soil prior to sealing in order to create the intended obstacles. Therefore, the list of human-induced changes that would have occurred in order to develop this landscape is extensive. Grading would have been necessary to create the banks and quarter-pipes within the skatepark. Levelling would have been a necessity to ensure that the flat areas of the park are indeed flat, as well as the parking lot. Plowing would have been utilized to rearrange soil in appropriate places to pour concrete on top of. Excavations could have potentially been needed to dig out the deeper end of the bowl feature. Lastly, embankments would have also been necessary to raise certain areas of the park to construct obstacles. Looking closely to the right-hand side of figure 8, it is evident as to how the soil is manipulated as a basis for the obstacles and then sealed in place.

ECOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL FEATURES - HYDROGEOLOGY

The major hydrological feature of the Silvercreek skatepark landscape is the Grand River which flows parallel to the skatepark. The Grand River and the riparian vegetation at this landscape exist in a crucial relation to one another, as the ecosystems feed off each other, and rely on one another to remain healthy and stable (Alberti 146). For example, the riparian vegetation provides food, nutrients, and energy to the river's aquatic ecosystem, as sticks, leaves, and wood, fall into the river (Alberti 146). Figure 10 below provides a documented photograph of some debris from the riparian vegetation just inside the shoreline of the Grand River.

The physical location of the Silvercreek skatepark landscape and the Grand River are situated in close proximity to the downtown core of Guelph, which makes sense as many urban centres are developed around rivers (Paul & Meyer 224). It is important to note that there has been a new research agenda that emphasizes the importance of hydrology and ecology in correlation, attempting to maintain the function and health of water based ecosystems while still supporting the needs of humans (Alberti 161). I believe this is the case for the newly developed landscape of Silvercreek skatepark, as it provides humans with access to nature and recreation, without sacrificing the health of the aquatic ecosystem of the Grand River. The Grand River certainly offers the local Guelph community a beautiful and accessible piece of nature, especially at the Silvercreek skatepark.

Considering significant changes in hydrogeology that have occurred to this landscape over time, there is no evidence or recordings of natural changes at this landscape, as the Grand River has always flown its course without any significant natural changes. However, there have been some important human-induced changes in hydrogeology at this location. As visualized in figure 11, the Grand River used to flow in three separate streams under Edinburgh Road, and it was eventually channeled into one streamflow under one bridge as it remains today. The GIS imagery on the left is from 1933, and the right is from 1966. The channelization of rivers is said to impact flow regimes as there can be a reduced velocity of flow, as the river is widened, straightened, and deepened (Alberti 137). This is certainly the case at the Grand River and Silvercreek skatepark landscape. The GIS imagery in figure 11 below displays the channeling that took place, and as a result, the river was straightened, deepened, and it appears to be wider than any of the original streams. In the present day, the river flows in a smooth and controlled manner, without much velocity at all, as pictured in figure 12 below.

ECOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL FEATURES- CLIMATE / MICROCLIMATE

In the 1960s when the current landscape of the skatepark was first declared a recreational park, the surrounding vegetation cover was destroyed. Now in the present day, the vegetation has been permitted to grow back, and it has been maintained accordingly. The authorization to let the vegetation flourish is an example of “Green Infrastructure” (Hough 217), and can be understood as a human-induced change which has altered the landscapes microclimate. More specifically, shaded linear parks exactly like the landscape of the Silvercreek skatepark maintain cooler environments, as vegetation provides shade and blocks incoming solar radiation (Hough 209). Thinking specifically about the physical skatepark itself, the addition of a paved area is certainly a human-induced change that affects microclimate, as paved areas decrease albedo, and more sunlight is absorbed by the surface. However, it is also important to note that the Skatepark surface was paved over with a very light grey colour, which increases the surface's reflectivity and prevents heating from being as severe as it potentially could have been (Hough 203).

Although the Silvercreek skatepark area can be considered as a “green lung”, providing climate control and a chance to escape the effects of the urban heat island, park spaces such as this landscape do not have a significant impact on the overall climate or air quality of the surrounding region (Hough 208).

Thinking about thermal environments and optimizing humans comfort and performance (Endlicher et. al, 271), it makes sense that the Silvercreek skatepark is located on the fringe suburban area rather than in the middle of the city, as the users of the park experience a more beneficial thermal environment away from the direct effects of the urban heat island. Also, having the skatepark located in a heavily shaded park places it in one of the most climatically functional areas to be found in a city (Hough 217).

HISTORICAL FEATURES

Archaeological influences: The Silvercreek skatepark landscape is situated on the homelands of the Anishinaabek Peoples, specifically the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. In 1792 and 1794, the Treaty 3: Between the Lakes Purchase and the Haldimand Proclamation between the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the British Crown granted the Mississaugas of the Credit 550,000 acres of land, including six miles on each side of the Grand River, which is the exact location of the skatepark today (Ball, 2018). It is challenging to interpret how they may have influenced the landscape over time, but it is certain that this landscape would have been a primal settling location due to the connectivity, transportation, and food that the Grand River would have provided.

Land use history: The Silvercreek skatepark landscape has had a short list of land-use history as it has spent most of its time as a recreational park following the settling and development of Guelph. However, in 1903 the Sleeman family started a rival brewing company under the name of Spring Bank Brewery, which was situated on the current landscape of the skatepark today.

In the 1960s the landscape was deemed as a recreational park, walking trails and other amenities have been constructed since then, and the skatepark was welcomed in 2016. The decision to turn the space into a recreational park has influenced the landscape over time as the vegetation has been permitted to redevelop, and the riparian corridor has become a healthy ecosystem providing beneficial habitats for plant and animal species. Figure 14 below provides imagery to illustrate the return of the riparian vegetation from 1966 to the present day as a result of the landscape being deemed as a recreational park.

CULTURAL FEATURES

Education / Interpretation: A sort of interpretive resource that deals with the Silvercreek skatepark landscape can be found on the website of Newline Skateparks, as they constructed and developed the park. The website provides a brief description of the significance and uniqueness of the skatepark, as well as an interactive interface to look through photographs of the skatepark. The website can be understood as a "story of place", as it works to clarify the role of this landscape, identify the opportunities, and provide a sort of brand of promise from Newline as they identify their specific elements of the skatepark (Baeker & Hanna 11).

Architectural Heritage: The only built environment that has previously existed on this local landscape was the Spring Bank Brewery as mentioned earlier in this report. There is no early architectural heritage that has been preserved.

Recreational Uses: The Silvercreek skatepark and the surrounding landscape is a recreational area in its entirety. The municipal walking trails passing through the landscape are formal and marked, under the name of Royal Recreation Trail, as pictured in Map 1. The skatepark is a unique recreational landscape, as the skatepark itself is formal, but the act of recreation at the park is informal and not controlled, the way it is to be utilized is up to the participant.

LAND TENURE- Ownership, jurisdiction, access, and management

The Silvercreek skatepark landscape is owned and controlled by the Municipality of Guelph. Public access is permitted and encouraged at the Silvercreek skatepark. Land ownership has an influence on the way the landscape looks today as the City of Guelph provides maintenance to the skatepark, specifically in the forms of basic landscaping and upkeep. The surrounding lawns are mowed every few weeks and the gardens in the direct proximity of the skatepark are tended to, while the riparian vegetation on the adjacent side is permitted to flourish. These practices make this landscape an attractive place for people to visit, and also keep the skatepark safe from unwanted debris. Throughout my time spent at the landscape, there are always people utilizing the walking trails, and some even take a few minutes to sit and watch us skateboard.

The Silvercreek skatepark landscape falls under Guelphs Park and Recreation Master Plan, which was last formulated in 2009, and the City is currently working on updating the plan. The 2009 Master Plan has had a huge impact on this landscape as it stressed the need for a skatepark which at the time was in high demand from residents, and constructing a skatepark was stated as an important initiative to enhance the value of Guelphs parks and recreational facilities. In 2016 this goal of the Master Plan was achieved as the skatepark was constructed.

CONNECTIVITY AND CONTEXT

The Silvercreek skatepark landscape is uniquely situated with an urban forest and riparian corridor on its one side, and a busy urban road stemming from a highway on its other side. Both of these adjacent land uses which are essentially polar opposites have an effect on the ecosystem functions of one another (Alberti 93). The highway infrastructure can be seen as providing efficient transportation both to and from the skatepark landscape for human function, but it also poses negative effects on the urban forest and riparian corridor in the form of pollution (Alberti 94). The riparian corridor, urban river, and urban forest on the other side of the skatepark are essential natural features that provide habitat and an aspect of climate control to the general landscape, which also affect the human-related aspect of the landscape as it makes it an attractive location for recreation and leisure.

CONTACT INFORMATION

City of Guelph Parks and Recreation:

1 Carden Street,

Guelph, Ontario, Canada

N1H 3A1

Website: https://guelph.ca/living/recreation/

Email: parks@guelph.ca

Phone: 519-822-1260

VIDEO: WALK THROUGH OF LOCAL LANDSCAPE

LITERATURE CITED

Alberti, Marina. "Hydrological Processes". Advances in Urban Ecology: Integrating humans and ecological processes in urban ecosystems, New York: Springer, 2008, pp. 133-161. Brock University Library Catalogue, EBSCOhost. Accessed 22 Sept 2020.

Alberti, Marina. "Landscape Signatures". Advances in Urban Ecology: Integrating humans and ecological processes in urban ecosystems. New York: Springer, 2008, pp. 93-112. Brock University Library Catalogue, EBSCOhost. Accessed 20 Oct 2020.

Baeker, Greg., and Hanna, Jeanette. Culture, Authenticity, Place: Connecting Cultural Mapping and Place Branding, Municipal World, 119(2), 2009, pp. 9-12. Brock University Library Catalogue, EBSCOhost. Accessed 24 Oct 2020.

Ball, Sarah. Land Acknowledgement. Guelph Museums, 2018. https://guelphmuseums.ca/land-acknowledgement/. Accessed 15 Sept 2020.

Grand River: Winding Through Waterloo Regions History. Explore Waterloo Region, 2017. https://www.explorewaterlooregion.com/2017/08/gran.... Accessed 15 Sept 2020.. Accessed 16 Sept 2020.

Hough, Micheal. Cities and Natural Processes: A Basis for Sustainability, 2nd Ed, London: Routeledge, 2004. Brock University Library Catalogue, EBSCOhost. Accessed 21 Sept 2020.

Paul, Micheal J., and Meyer, Judy L. "Streams in the Urban Landscape". Urban Ecology, New York: Springer, 2008, pp. 207-233. Brock University Library Catalogue, EBSCOhost. Accessed 18 Oct 2020.

Recreation, Parks & Culture Strategic Master Plan. City of Guelph, 2009. https://guelph.ca/wp-content/uploads/RecreationPar.... Accessed 22 Oct 2020.

Silvercreek Park. City of Guelph, 2020. https://guelph.ca/location/silvercreek-park/. Accessed 16 Sept 2020.

Silvercreek Skatepark. City of Guelph, 2020. https://guelph.ca/living/recreation/rec-facilities.... Accessed 22 Oct 2020.

Timeline: Sleeman Family History and Events. University Of Guelph, 2020. https://lib.uoguelph.ca/archives/our-collections/r.... Accessed 15 Sept 2020.

Wessolek, Gerd. "Sealing of Soils". Urban Ecology, New York: Springer, 2008, pp. 161-179. Brock University Library Catalogue, EBSCOhost. Accessed 10 Oct 2020.

Image Sources:

Map showing Silvercreek Skatepark. Google Earth. https://earth.google.com/web/search/Silvercreek+Sk...,+Edinburgh+Road+South,+Guelph,+ON/@43.5333679,-80.2547555,304.58529761a,740.71033526d,35y,0h,45t,0r/data=CqIBGngScgolMHg4ODJiOWFjOGU4ZjEzYWUzOjB4YWZiOWQzOTIwY2EwNTQ2ZRk7njtmRcRFQCF5PgPqTRBUwCo3U2lsdmVyY3JlZWsgU2thdGVwYXJrLCBFZGluYnVyZ2ggUm9hZCBTb3V0aCwgR3VlbHBoLCBPThgCIAEiJgokCd8MvrPIBjlAEd8MvrPIBjnAGfcs6s7DIUNAIRJpCnPaZ1HAKAI. Accessed 15 Sept 2020.

Slideshow Image 1: McLean, Robert. Guelph Public Library Archives: Three Bridges. Archeion Archive Associates of Ontario. https://www.archeion.ca/three-bridges. Accessed 16 Sept 2020.

Slideshow Image 2: Shelley, Cameron. Wells Bridge. Guelph in Postcards, 2014. http://guelphpostcards.blogspot.com/2014/06/wells-.... Accessed 15 Sept 2020.

Slideshow Image 3: Barton, K. Speed River, East toward Edinburgh Road. Guelph Museums, 2020. https://guelph.pastperfectonline.com/photo/C2F696A.... Accessed 16 Sept 2020.

Slideshow Image 5: Coulman, Donald. Canoe race on the speed river. Guelph Museums, 2020. https://guelph.pastperfectonline.com/photo/ABE0AC4.... Accessed 16 Sept 2020.

Figure 11: Geospatial Centre: Historical Air Photos of the City of Guelph. University of Waterloo, 2020. https://uwaterloo.ca/library/geospatial/historical... Accessed 6 Oct 2020.

Figure 12: Silvercreek Park Skatepark. Newline Skateparks, 2020. https://www.newlineskateparks.com/project/silvercr... Accessed 15 Sept 2020.

Figure 13: McLean, Robert.Guelph Public Library Archives: Spring Bank Brewery. Archeion Archive Associates of Ontario. https://www.archeion.ca/springbank-brewery. Accessed 16 Sept 2020.

This Local Landscape Report was prepared by Sam Caravaggio for the Brock University course TMGT 2P94: Human Dominated Ecosystems on November 7, 2020.

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