Fonds RG-22 - City of Edmonton. Parks Department fonds

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

City of Edmonton. Parks Department fonds

General material designation

  • Textual record

Parallel title

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Title statements of responsibility

Title notes

  • Source of title proper: Title based on name of creator.

Level of description

Fonds

Reference code

CA EDM RG-22

Edition area

Edition statement

Edition statement of responsibility

Class of material specific details area

Statement of scale (cartographic)

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Statement of coordinates (cartographic)

Statement of scale (architectural)

Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • 1907-1962, predominant 1947-1962 (Creation)
    Creator
    Parks Department

Physical description area

Physical description

50 cm of textual records

Publisher's series area

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Archival description area

Name of creator

(1911-1913, 1947-1961)

Administrative history

In 1911 City parks were operated by Paul A. von Aueberg under the City Engineer. There was a Parks Commission, which likely provided guidance to the development of the parks system, to which City Engineer A.J. Latronell was appointed in 1911. On April 1, 1912 Parks became an independent department, with von Aueberg as superintendent. The early Parks Department was tasked with establishing, maintaining, and improving all parks and parkland in the city.

Due to a financial crisis the Parks Department was closed by order of Council on August 21, 1913 and the parks function reverted to the Engineer's Department. Over the next thirty-four years the Engineer's Department guided the parks system: the parks were maintained and expanded, Borden Park Zoo established, the Municipal Golf Course was created, swimming pools and hockey rinks were built, boulevards constructed, trees planted, and the community leagues movement began.

On January 13, 1947 the Parks Department was resurrected when Council approved the formation of the City Parks Department. The Parks Department had 180 staff, mostly transferred from the Engineer's Department.

A 1952 organizational chart lists the responsibilities of the re-established Parks Department as the maintenance of City parks, boulevards, the football stadium, the zoo, and rinks; the maintenance and operation of cemeteries including issuing permits, collecting fees, and removing snow; the maintenance and operation of golf courses and swimming pools; the operation of concessions in parks, swimming pools and golf courses; and maintaining complete accounting records.

The Zoo Advisory Board was established on 1959 through Bylaw 1967. The Board's function was to provide advice to City Council in connection to projects and policies relating to zoological issues, particularly in respect to the Children's Zoo in Laurier Park. The five member Board was composed of three individuals appointed by Council from a list provided by the Edmonton Zoological Society, and two members appointed by Council as citizen's-at-large members.

On August 29, 1961 Bylaw 2202 was passed, merging the Parks Department and Recreation Department to form the Parks and Recreation Department. The amalgamation took effect January 1, 1962.

Custodial history

Scope and content

Fonds consists of meeting minutes, correspondence, reports, and one scrapbook relating to the activities of the Parks Department.

An order has been imposed on the material. The arrangement includes 5 series. The series are as follows:

  • Series 1: Administration
  • Series 2: Financial
  • Series 3: Parks and Facilities
  • Series 4: Correspondence with Outside Organizations
  • Series 5: Scrapbooks

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

This material was transferred to the City of Edmonton Archives by the Parks and Recreation Department in 1973 and 1974.

Arrangement

The material was arranged by the archivist by subject. Some reports were assigned item numbers with the prefix GP.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

    Location of originals

    Availability of other formats

    Restrictions on access

    These records contain information that is protected in alignment with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act. There are no restrictions on access.

    Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

    Copyright may apply.
    Reproduction restrictions may apply.

    Finding aids

    Associated materials

    Accruals

    No further accruals are expected.

    General note

    This material was originally processed as part of RG-21.1. As part of the continued processing of RG-21 (Parks and Recreation Department) it was determined that the files comprising RG-22 were actually created by the Parks Department. Reflecting this administrative independence, the files were removed and became RG-22.

    General note

    Accession numbers: A73-12, A74-34

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Standard number

    Standard number

    Access points

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    Control area

    Description record identifier

    Institution identifier

    City of Edmonton Archives

    Rules or conventions

    Rules for Archival Description (RAD)
    Archives Society of Alberta Subject Terms

    Status

    Final

    Level of detail

    Dates of creation, revision and deletion

    Language of description

      Script of description

        Sources

        Accession area