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RiverWalk is a highly visible part of East Village’s urban renewal – and has already been singled out for praise

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Terraced basalt steps lead to the Bow River from the RiverWalk Plaza in Calgary’s East Village - 49 acres on the historic east side of downtown. RiverWalk’s design allows Calgarians to get closer to the river in a safe manner. People can launch rafts from the area, have lunch along the riverbank, or simply enjoy quiet time near the water.

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The RiverWalk promenade, heading west toward the Centre Street bridge, boasts dedicated pedestrian and cycling paths. An observation deck juts out along the Bow River. Designed by Stantec Consulting Ltd., the first kilometre of RiverWalk is open and this year was named a finalist for the 2012 Urban Land Institute’s Urban Open Space Award along with four U.S. candidates. The award will be announced this October and recognizes projects that transform or revive their surrounding community.

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RiverWalk at night; public realm treated with LED lighting. When completed RiverWalk will stretch four kilometres, following the south side of the Bow River from Centre Street to Fort Calgary, and then along the west bank of the Elbow River to Stampede and Lindsay parks. The project will likely take five or more years to complete and will ultimately be connected to Calgary’s 700-plus kilometre pathway system.

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This spring, U.S.-based Widewaters Group announced that it plans to join the East Village project. Here, an artist's view shows the 14-storey Hilton Hotel looking west from the corner of 7th Avenue and 4th Street SE. The $75-million hotel is expected to open in 2014.

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A digital rendering of a revitalized East Village looking south from Memorial Drive across Calgary's Bow River. In the foreground the 100-year old Simmons Building is situated along RiverWalk. To the left, First, a condominium project by FRAM+ Slokker. To the right, the two Evolution towers, by Embassy Bosa Inc. The community is to include 11,000 residents by 2025.

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