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William Hawrelak Park

Parks ·Edmonton
4.74.6K
#1Parks in Edmonton
  • Step-free access
  • Ideal for dogs
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About

William Hawrelak Park is a riverside park in Edmonton, Alberta, beside the North Saskatchewan River.

More photos 11

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William Hawrelak Park — The park pavilion among snow covered lawns and trees Mack Male from Edmonton, AB, Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0 · edited
William Hawrelak Park — The park pavilion among snow covered lawns and treesWilliam Hawrelak Park — Snowy pavilion with visitors gathered outsideWilliam Hawrelak Park — Lake Hawrelak reflecting evening light and evergreen treesWilliam Hawrelak Park — Rock lined watercourse beneath tall treesWilliam Hawrelak Park — A leafless tree beside the park lake and grassy shoreWilliam Hawrelak Park — Snow covered lakeshore with a bench and bare treesWilliam Hawrelak Park — Snowy park path leading toward a small buildingWilliam Hawrelak Park — Winter lakeshore with a bench, evergreen, and bare treeWilliam Hawrelak Park — Park bench surrounded by snow covered treesWilliam Hawrelak Park — Frozen park lake with distant trees and skatersWilliam Hawrelak Park — Winter lake and shoreline beneath a vivid sunset

What's on here

Girls Who Walk & Talk Girls Who Walk & Talk Saturday, 10:00Free

Why go

  • Walk perimeter trails along forested riverbanks beside open green space.
  • See five pavilions designed by Bittorf & Wensley in West Coast Modernist and Organic Expressionist styles.
  • Attend the Freewill Shakespeare Festival or Symphony Under the Sky Festival at the Heritage Amphitheatre.

Don't miss

  • Heritage AmphitheatreCompleted in 1985, it is western Canada's largest outdoor amphitheatre.William Hawrelak Park, 9330 Groat Rd NW On the map
  • Community League PlazaSee artwork and exhibits about the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues, with lake and creek views, seating, heaters, a gas fireplace and a wood-burning stove.Southeast side of the lakeYear-round On the map

What's in season

  • Dec – FebIn winter, the lake becomes a public skating rink and perimeter trails support cross-country skiing. Silver Skate has been held here since 1990; the festival brought Canada’s first ice castle to the park in 2016.
  • Jun – AugVisitors can rent boats on the lake in summer.

With kids

  • The nature-themed playground is designed for people of all ages and abilities.
  • Explore the Community League Plaza’s artwork and exhibits about Edmonton’s community leagues.

Facilities

  • Picnic areas and fire pits Four reservable summer picnic sites, one winter site and 37 drop-in picnic tables; many picnic sites have fire pits.
  • Restaurant In the main pavilion, with a dog-friendly patio.
  • Beach volleyball nets

Photo spots

  • Heritage AmphitheatreThe amphitheatre and its surrounding grass area.William Hawrelak Park, 9330 Groat Rd NW On the map

Shorts

History

The site was once a gravel pit. The park hosted track cycling during the 1983 Summer Universiade and the Christmas-season Bright Nights Festival from 1998 to 2008. A windstorm tore the amphitheatre canopy in 2013; it was replaced in 2014.

  1. 1922The city acquired the land after the Strathcona Land Syndicate forfeited its taxes.
  2. 1959–1964Work on the artificial lakes began in 1959 and finished in 1964.
  3. 1967The park opened as Mayfair Park on July 1.
  4. 1982The park was renamed for William Hawrelak, who had died while serving as Edmonton’s mayor in 1975.

How to get there

  • BusSeveral buses stop near the entrance. The park is at 9330 Groat Rd NW, west of Groat Road and north of 87 Avenue NW.
  • BusFor amphitheatre events, park-and-ride services can run directly from the University of Alberta.

Accessibility

  • Paved connection from bus stop into park Accessible paved path.
  • Interior loop Mostly flat paved path with rest nodes.

Sources: William Hawrelak Park - Wikipedia · Edmonton/South Central - Wikivoyage (see) · William Hawrelak Park | City of Edmonton · checked 11 Oct 2026

Where
9330 Groat Rd NW, Edmonton

Plan from here: Evening walk →

Questions and answers

What are William Hawrelak Park’s opening hours?

It is open daily from 05:00 to 23:00.

Can I swim in the lake at William Hawrelak Park?

No. Public swimming is prohibited.

Can I bring my own boating equipment to William Hawrelak Park?

No. Privately owned equipment is prohibited on the lake.

Can I bring a dog to William Hawrelak Park?

Yes. Leashed dogs are allowed on the trails.

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