Fort Edmonton Park reopens to public on Thursday, after nearly three years

Fort Edmonton Park will reopen to the public the same day Alberta begins Stage 3 of its reopening plan.

The popular attraction in southwest Edmonton hasbeen shut for nearly three years to undergoa $165-million upgrade. The park's long-awaited reopening will happen Thursday, coinciding with the loosening of most provincial public health restrictions.

"It feels like we finally arrived after a long, long period of work and creativity and ups and downs but we are finally here today," Darren Dalgleish, president and CEO of Fort Edmonton Management Company, toldCBC Radio's Edmonton AM.

Construction at the park began in fall 2018. Some rental events and weddings didn't go ahead in 2020 due to construction, but the pandemic put an end to all rental events and the park'sannual Halloween event.

LISTEN| Fort Edmonton Park Reopens:

As of Thursday, park visitorswill be greeted with a new front entry plaza. They can then board a 1919 steam-enginetrain that will transport them through the park.

The parkfeaturesnew attractions at the Johnny J. Jones Exposition and a brand new Indigenous Peoples Experience.

The exhibit is the biggest addition to the park and is meant to give visitors an opportunity to learn about First Nations and Mtis peoples.

Thenorthern lights dancingalong the walls, the rumble of a bison herd going by, and animations projected onto teepees depictingoral stories told by elders are among thesounds and lighting that shift as one peruses the exhibit.

Visitors will also see tools, clothingand animals that explain the Indigenous guiding principles of the 13 Moons, the traditional Indigenous calendar.The exhibit also includes a Mtis cabin and a theatre-like space that tellsthe history of residential schools and outlines the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 calls to action.

"First time I walked through it, I was just in awe," said Vernon Watchmaker, grand chief of the Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations.

"This is a good thing moving forward."

Watchmaker is looking forward to people experiencing the First Nation and Mtiscontent.He said the space is a good starting point for creating awareness for non-Indigenous peoples, and offers an experience a lot of Indigenous peoples haven't had.

LISTEN | Treaty 6 Grand Chief on new Fort Edmonton Park

The park also expanded its 1920s midway,which features a new giant ferris wheeland the familiar old-timey buildings such as the Capitol cinema, drug store, bank and bazaar.

The upgrades to Fort Edmonton Parkwere completed with funding from the three levels of government, as well as the Fort Edmonton Foundation. In January, city council approved a $1.7 million loan to park to help it reopen.

Fort Edmonton hopes to return the money over the next two years, saidDalgleish.