Named after the western meadowlark, a yellow-breasted bird with a flute-like song, Meadowlark Park sends out the same message of tranquility and harmony. Meadowlark Park dates back to the 1950s and was originally part of the Town of Jasper Place, located west of Edmonton. The neighbourhood was built as an alternative residential area to those in the city. In 1964, Jasper Place was amalgamated into the City of Edmonton, Alberta, making Meadowlark Park one of the city’s newer neighbourhoods.
Located in the heart of West Edmonton, Meadowlark Park is a residential neighbourhood with cozy homes, spacious lots and quiet streets – a suburban haven of serenity! Meadowlark’s convenient location provides easy access to Downtown and to major traffic routes such as the Yellowhead Trail, Anthony Henday Drive and Whitemud Freeway. It is bounded to the south by 87th Avenue, to the north by 95th Avenue, to the west by 170th Street, and to the east by 163rd Street.
The Meadowlark Park area is an ideal community for all kinds of households. Retirees flock here because of its appealing single-family homes, condos and apartments. The quiet and safe environment also makes it a great family-friendly neighbourhood. It would come as no surprise to hear that newcomers are greeted with a welcome card and a plate of freshly baked muffins or cookies!
An important feature of this West Edmonton neighborhood is the Meadowlark Health and Shopping Centre, which provides a number of medical services (clinics, pharmacies, medical and diagnostic imaging labs) and retail services (Safeway, Walmart, coffee shops, banks, restaurants, a gas station and other convenient services).
Restaurants and coffee shops are mainly concentrated in the area around the Meadowlark Health and Shopping Centre. The vast majority of restaurants are fast-food chains, so if you enjoy fine dining you may not find what you want in Meadowlark Park. However, not far away lies West Edmonton Mall, the largest shopping mall in North America. This popular tourist destination is within fairly reasonable walking distance and is only a few minutes away by car, so you don’t have to travel far to find everything you need.
Real Estate
The most common types of homes in Meadowlark Park, which are typical for West Edmonton, are single-detached properties, and the average age of houses dates back to before the 1980s. The majority of houses have a rear, detached garage. Slightly more than 90 percent of homes are owner-occupied.
High density housing is not yet available in Meadowlark Park. Approximately a quarter of the total residential dwelling units are condominiums or low-to-medium-density apartment buildings. The two condo complexes here are Meadowlark Terrace, which offers underground parking, and The Renaissance, which is an adult-only complex conveniently located between the Meadowlark Health and Shopping Centre and Jasper Place Library.
A clear indicator that the residents of Meadowlark Park are content in this peaceful neighbourhood is the scarcity of homeowners wanting to sell their homes. Hence, the land value in Meadowlark Park is fairly high with a desirability score of 93/100 as of 2013, meaning that 93 per cent of residents do not want to sell their houses.
The most prominent feature of Meadowlark Park is the quietness of the neighbourhood. Even though it is situated in a strategic position, the setup of the residential areas makes it somewhat sheltered from traffic. As no freeways cross the neighbourhood and there are plenty of parks around, pollution levels are also minimal.
Crime Rate
The crime rate in Meadowlark Park ranges from low to moderate and the active Neighbourhood Watch Program has helped keep this level down. In the past 3 years, no major crimes such as homicides have been recorded in the area.
Schools
There is only one school located within the neighbourhood, Meadowlark Elementary School, which offers both regular and Mandarin Chinese bilingual programs. It is operated by the Edmonton Public School System.
In addition, there are two high schools located just beyond the neighbourhood’s western border in West Meadowlark Park: St. Francis Xavier Catholic High School and Jasper Place High School. A number of other schools are conveniently located in the surrounding areas of Elmwood, Glenwood and Lynnwood.
Public Transportation
Meadowlark Park offers good public transportation with around 11 bus lines passing through it. The Meadowlark Transit Centre, part of the Edmonton Transit System, is located on the north side of the Meadowlark Health and Shopping Centre and is within reasonable walking distance of most homes in the neighbourhood. The neighbourhood is somewhat walkable: with a walk score of 58, Meadowlark Park is ranked as the 78th most walkable neighbourhood in Edmonton. Thus, some errands can be done on foot.
Family Life
Meadowlark Park is a great place to raise a family. Several areas of greenery, large and small, are distributed throughout the neighbourhood, giving residents easy access to open space. In particular there is Jasper Place Jubilee Park, the biggest park in Meadowlark. It’s a great place to spend a family day out or play a friendly game of soccer. Not too far away is the Jasper Place branch of the Edmonton Public Library, a quiet getaway where you can read and temporarily escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
For those looking for a life in the city without the “city life”, Meadowlark Park is the answer. Nestled in the centre of Edmonton’s West End, this convenient location leaves you minutes away from some of the city’s most prominent attractions and major highways. Whether you want to raise a family or just enjoy your long-earned retirement, Meadowlark Park is the perfect place.