Edmonton's oldest park once had a zoo and a tunnel of love

Borden Park, Edmonton's oldest park established in 1906 on what was then the city limits, has a history far more colorful than its current walking paths and flower gardens suggest.

Originally named East End City Park, it was renamed in 1914 in honour of Sir Robert Borden, Canada's eighth prime minister, following his visit to Edmonton on the eve of the First World War. By the 1920s, the 22-hectare park in the Virginia Park community on the north side of the river had become one of the city's most popular gathering places, drawing crowds for picnics, musical performances, and sports games.

But the park's real draw was its attractions. It housed Edmonton's first zoo, which operated until the Edmonton Valley Zoo opened in 1959. An amusement park featured a carousel, roller coaster (operating since 1915), and the beloved Old Mill ride—better known to many as the "Tunnel of Love." According to the Coaster Enthusiasts of Canada, the "Tunnel of Love" was a wet, dark ride where passenger boats were drawn through tunnels by magnets.

The park also featured a tea room and became home to one of Edmonton's first outdoor swimming pools in 1924. That same year, the pool became the centre of a civil rights battle when Black Edmontonians discovered the city had quietly introduced segregationist policies. The Black community appealed the rule, and by mid-July, city council voted to overturn the decision.

By the 1930s, visits began to decline. The Old Mill ride was destroyed by fire; the economic hardships of the Great Depression meant residents had less money for outings. The roller coaster was dismantled in 1935.

Today, Borden Park features public art, walking paths, and a formal flower garden, and remains a popular spot for sports and community events. It hosts festivals including the UFest Ukrainian Festival and Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Festival. The Borden Natural Swimming Pool, which opened in 2018, is an award-winning chemical-free outdoor pool surrounded by sand, lounge areas, and shaded umbrellas.