Glow with the flow: Hawrelak Park lake offers special kayaks, paddleboards

People on the lake at Hawrelak Park on Friday, July 10, 2026. (Sean McClune/CTV News Edmonton)

It’s time to take a shine on the water at Edmonton’s largest, recently reopened central park.

The lake at Hawrelak Park is now open for people looking to get out on the water, with several watercraft rental options available – including one that’ll light up your night.

The park reopened to the public in May after years of renovations and upgrades.

• 14-foot Indigenous art piece, lakefront restaurant highlights of Hawrelak Park grand re-opening

Now, parkgoers can get out on the water in rented stand-up paddleboards, pedal boats, kayaks and see-through kayaks.

The transparent kayaks allow people to see straight through to the bottom of the lake.

Eventually, when the sunlight wanes earlier in the evening, the transparent kayaks will be converted so they glow in the dark..

“It’s very beginner-friendly. For the kayaks, we do provide a brief intro, how to turn around, how to stop,” said Pushinder Pel, director of WildRush.

“In case of any emergencies, we have safety kits on the boats.”

Previously, Pel says the lake only had pedal boats, and he’s got more expansion plans in the works, including yoga on the stand-up paddleboards.

The lake opened Thursday, and Pel had a lot of customers paddling through the fountain on the water.

There have also been some deer spotted on the island in the lake.

“There’s a mama deer, and then two baby deers on it,” Pel said. “Sometimes in the day, I would see those two little deers hopping around, so that’s one of the highlights.”

Rentals are available from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.