Borden Park

Another prominent feature of Borden Park is its natural swimming pool, the first of its kind in Canada.^[11] The pool includes a main pool area that slopes to a depth of two meters and a children's wading pool with a depth of 0.6 meters, both surrounded by constructed beaches.^[12] Rather than being treated with chlorine or salt, the water is circulated through a series of regeneration basins with gabions, plants, and microbes that remove human contaminants. The pool is surrounded by a low-slung minimalist building that includes showers and changing areas.^[13]

The pool was opened in 2018 and cost $14.4 million.^[14] This delivery was more than two years behind schedule, in part because the initial design proved too expensive. There were also technical issues, including a leak in the liner of one of the filtration ponds that needed to be repaired before opening.^[12][15] The design of the pool and building was meant to evoke both the winding of the North Saskatchewan River and the flatness of the surrounding prairie. Both were designed by gh3* and received the 2019 Innovation in Architecture award from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.^[16] They were also recognized in Azure's 2020 awards with the top prize in the Buildings Under 1,000 Square Metres category.^[13]

The fact that the water is not chemically treated necessitates special rules for swimmers. Only 980 swimmers are allowed in the pool each day, and at most 500 at a single time. (In the 2024 season, the average number of daily swimmers was 187.^[14]) Swimmers must take a full shower before each time they enter the pool and may not wear cotton clothing or sunscreen with phosphates.^[17] The water is only heated up to 23 °C and the pool is shut down if the temperature exceeds 29 °C on sunny days.^[12] Despite these rules, there have been warnings about risk of contamination. A pair of 2021 studies suggested that the natural filtration system was slow to clear out contaminants, leading to potential growth of harmful microbes. They suggested a limit of 45 bathers per day.^[11][18] The city sends samples to Alberta Health Services each week for fecal coliform testing. The kids' pool has faced multiple temporary shutdowns, and the city has also acknowledged high levels of algal growth in both pools, but it has generally insisted that the main pool is safe.^[14]

Borden Park is home to many outdoor works of public art. One notable permanent installation is Vaulted Willow, a sculpture by Marc Fornes and THEVERYMANY.^[19] The sculpture takes the form of a 20-foot-tall branching, downwardly curved structure made of 721 brightly colored aluminum shingles connected into a self-supporting structure.^[20][21] It was recognized as part of the Public Art Network Year in Review by Americans for the Arts.^[22]

The park also has a number of sculptures that are placed there on a rotating basis.^[19] These have included sculptures by prominent Edmonton artists, including Ken Macklin, Peter Hide, and Sandra Bromley.

Other artworks are found within the park structures. The pavilion contains the abstract mural Carousel by Nicole Gallelis painted on its inside walls.^[19] The bottom of the natural swimming pool features a mosaic by Métis artist William Frymire.