Sherwood Park is a large hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Strathcona County that is recognized as an urban service area.^[7] It is located adjacent to the City of Edmonton's eastern boundary,^[8] generally south of Highway 16 (Yellowhead Trail), west of Highway 21 and north of Highway 630 (Wye Road).^[9]

Sherwood Park was established in 1955 on farmland of the Smeltzer family, east of Edmonton. With a population of 68,782 in 2015,^[5] Sherwood Park has enough people to be Alberta's seventh largest city, but technically retains the status of a hamlet. The Government of Alberta recognizes the Sherwood Park Urban Service Area as equivalent to a city.^[10]

History

Sherwood Park, originally named Campbelltown, was founded by John Hook Campbell and John Mitchell in 1953 when the Municipal District of Strathcona No. 83 approved their proposed development of a bedroom community east of Edmonton. The first homes within the community were marketed to the public in 1955. Canada Post intervened on the name of Campbelltown due to the existence of several other communities in Canada within the same name, so the community's name was changed to Sherwood Park in 1956.^[11]

Geography

The Sherwood Park Urban Service Area is located in the Edmonton Capital Region along the western edge of central Strathcona County adjacent to the City of Edmonton.^[8] The majority of the community is bound by Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway) to the north, Highway 21 to the east, Highway 630 (Wye Road) to the south, and Anthony Henday Drive (Highway 216) to the west. The Refinery Row portion of Sherwood Park is located across Anthony Henday Drive to the west, between Sherwood Park Freeway and Highway 16. Numerous developments fronting the south side of Wye Road, including Wye Gardens, Wye Crossing, Salisbury Village and the Estates of Sherwood Park, are also within the community. Lands north of Highway 16 and south of Township Road 534/Oldman Creek between Range Road 232 (Sherwood Drive) to the west and Highway 21 to the east are also within the Sherwood Park urban service area.^[9]

Demographics

The population of Sherwood Park according to Strathcona County's 2015 municipal census is 68,782, a 5.1% change from its 2012 municipal census population of 65,465.^[5]

In the 2011 Census, Sherwood Park had a population of 64,733,^[6] a 13.9% change from its 2006 population of 56,845.^[20]

Economy

Sherwood Park has a strong economy with over $9.0 billion worth of major projects completed, announced, or under construction. A district known as Refinery Row lies west of Sherwood Park and includes some of the largest industrial facilities in Western Canada, including Esso's Strathcona Refinery.

Crime

According to RCMP collected data in 2012, crime in Sherwood Park has been on the rise especially impaired driving and domestic violence. Domestic violence reports rose by 32 percent; impaired driving went up 10 percent. Other facts released also pointed out that sexual offenses went up by 20 percent and drug trafficking charges went up 55 percent.^[21]

Arts and culture

Facilities for visual and performing arts in Sherwood Park include the A.J. Ottewell Community Centre, Art Gallery @ 501, Festival Place and Smeltzer House Centre for Visual Arts.^[9][22]

Attractions

Recreation facilities within Sherwood Park include the Broadmoor Arena, Glen Allan Recreation Complex, Kinsmen Leisure Centre, Millennium Place, Sherwood Park Arena/Sports Centre and Strathcona Athletic Park as well as a BMX bike park, a BMX bike pump trackand a skateboard park.^[9] The community also has 37 parks and sportsfields.^[9]

Sports

The most significant local sports team is a hockey squad, the Sherwood Park Crusaders. The Crusaders play in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.^[23] Sherwood Park has a well-respected Midget "AAA" hockey program, dating back to the mid-1970s, that has produced several top calibre players including former and current NHLers Gerald Diduck, Jim Ennis, Tyson Nash, Cam Ward and Daymond Langkow. The Sherwood Park Kings Athletic Club includes levels from Peewee to Midget and with the highest level being the Midget "AAA" program.

Sherwood Park is a significant football community. At least one Sherwood Park high school football team has been to the Alberta provincial final since the 1999 season. The bantam team, the Sherwood Park Rams, have won provincials five of the last seven seasons.^[24]The 2014 provincial championship is held by the Sherwood Park Wolverines, which is their first title.^[25]

Baseball has become a very popular and important sport in the community.^[26] In 2008, the Sherwood Park Dukes began their first season in Sherwood Park, playing at Centennial Park in the Western Major Baseball League.

Strathcona County hosted the 2007 Western Canada Summer Games with most of the events held in Sherwood Park. The games included 2,300 athletes, coaches, and officials from the four western provinces and three northern territories. Around 2,800 volunteers helped make the games a success.

Government

Sherwood Park is governed by the Strathcona County Council. The County's mayor is Roxanne Carr who replaced Linda Osinchuk in the 2013 municipal election.

Education

Sherwood Park's school boards are Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS)^[27], Elk Island Catholic Schools (EICS)^[28], and the Conseil Scolaire Centre-Nord (CSCN or the Greater North Central Francophone Education Region No. 2).

The public high schools are Bev Facey Community High School and Salisbury Composite High School, as well as Strathcona Christian Academy (kindergarten to grade 12), and Archbishop Jordan Catholic High School.

Sherwood Park was home to Canada's first charter school: New Horizons Charter School, a public charter school that offers a gifted education program for students from kindergarten to grade 9. It is located in Sherwood Park on the edge of the Village on the Lake subdivision.

Media

Sherwood Park's newspaper is the twice-weekly Sherwood Park-Strathcona County News. The Sherwood Park News and Strathcona County This Week newspapers, both owned by Bowes Publishers, in turn part of Sun Media Corporation, merged on November 6, 2007 to become Sherwood Park • Strathcona County News.^[29]

Due to the community's close proximity to Edmonton, all major Edmonton media, including the daily newspapers (such as the Edmonton Sun and the Edmonton Journal) and radio and TV broadcasters, also serve Sherwood Park and immediate area.

*Source - Wikipedia

Sherwood Park Wiki
Things to do in Sherwood Park
Strathcona County

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