Originally broadcast on April 14th, 1965 at 11:45 AM on CHED Radio, Edmonton, ALberta Canada

City council has tentatively reserved up to 11% of Edmonton’s river valley parkland for freeways. 370 acres of this precious land will give way to high speed freeways. It would appear that McKinnon Ravine and Mill Creek Ravine are also to be sacrificed for freeways. Anyone who drives a car in this city knows the city must find high speed routes and expand the city’s freeway system, but gentlemen, for the sake of the citizen of this city and for generations ahead, move slowly on this matter, Ladies and gentlemen look out your window right now. As you drive your car, look around you. What do you see? Snow, filthy streets, drab buildings, brown lawns, dirty gutters and sidewalks, and everywhere you look the mountains of mud and steel and cement that go to make a growing city. Do you see any beauty anywhere in this city? Think of it. For seven months every year you look at that dismal sight outside your window today. But in a few weeks the river valley and the ravines will be green and beautiful. We have them for such a short time. And now they must give way to freeways. Again I repeat. The traffic problems must be solved, but one wonders if certain members of council realize fully what they are doing. Alderman Angus McGugan was distressed to find out that freeway speeds would likely be 60 miles per hour. He said “I want something mid-way between a scenic drive and a freeway concept of travel”. To my knowledge sir, there just ain’t no such animal. When that freeway goes through the parkland, forget the scenery. Freeways are fast and furious business even when they pass through the most beautiful country in the world. You don’t see anything but cement and chrome bumpers. I respectfully submit that council should search diligently for some other answer to freeways. Once they are installed we have them for life and there is no turning back. There is precious little beauty in this cold Canadian city. Surely it is worth preserving. By the way, in case you’re wondering, I live in Ottewell so my interest in this matter is not coloured by my proximity to the areas in question.