In case you were wondering what groundbreaking plans the city has for the Sunday closue of Memorial Drive in August, here is the press release from the organizers (all bold face is original). The best part is, in the email that came along with this they said "we don't plan on responding to the media right away, allowing for the negative press to die down."

Don't get me wrong, I wholeheartedly support the closure, but the press release is so nefarious and makes the whole thing sound so...well...lame.

A Vision for The Bow River Flow

The Bow River Flow is an occasion for Calgarians to gather and celebrate life along the Bow River and the Memorial Drive Parkway.  Imagine a great flowing commons through the heart of our city – an event that is inclusive of and accessible to all Calgarians - an invitation for individuals, families, after-church congregations, tai chi enthusiasts, to come together to mingle, and to enjoy a leisurely walk or ride along Memorial Drive, or a float down the Bow River.

It is an occasion for Calgarians to take some time on the last Sunday in August to slow down and collectively reflect on our good fortune - to leave behind the hustle and bustle of our busy work lives and the noise and hassle of our cars and traffic and simply relax, and enjoy Calgary’s beautiful Memorial Parkway, one of the gems of our city.

The Bow River Flow will not compete with the great festivals already taking place in our city. It is an occasion to celebrate healthy active lifestyles - a non-commercialized, non-motorized celebration where one day of the week we share the road and allow excess lanes to be enjoyed by people in a safe, car-free environment.

Its an opening, not a closure. The event simply opens space for Calgarians to stroll the historic Memorial Drive promenade, relax, unwind, breathe in some fresh air, perhaps take in a yoga session, or just enjoy the cool breezes off the river.

The Bow River Flow celebrates our future and our past. It is an occasion to enjoy the natural beauty of our River Valley. It is a natural evolution in the process of creating a healthy, vibrant, sustainable city. It is the embodiment of our city’s new transportation vision that recognizes the importance of promoting active modes of travel. It is a coming-out event for the newly designed Parkway. It is an opportunity for all Calgarians to remember those for whom the Parkway has been named and to share in this ‘Landscape of Memory’.

The Bow River Flow is Calgary’s answer to similar events that have blossomed in cities all over the world – Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Paris, New York, San Francisco, Bogota and more. It is part of a world-wide renaissance of cities built for people.

In its first year, the Bow River flow will take place adjacent to the community of Hillhurst-Sunnyside. In future years, we envision communities all along the riverfront co-hosting the event.

So join us on August 23rd. Bring your family, your neighbours, your grandparents, your pets, your bicycles, your tricycles, your in-line skates, you wheelchairs, your scooters, your yoga mats, your picnic baskets. Join the Flow - roll, float and stroll the Bow.

info at: bowriverflow@gmail.com