Magrath Heights is a neighbourhood located in southwest Edmonton, and is one of seven neighbourhoods in the Terwillegar Heights Servicing Concept Design Brief area. The neighbourhood is bounded by Mactaggart Drive on the south, Rabbit Hill Road on the west, 23 Avenue to the north, and Whitemud Creek to the east. The City adopted the Magrath Heights Neighborhood Area Structure Plan in 2003, and development began soon after. All low density
residential development is now complete. Low density, single and semi-detached dwelling units make up approximately half of all the planned dwelling units. The other of half is planned as a mix of medium-density row housing and low rise apartments.
The medium density housing is generally located near major roadways, commercial uses, and the school site. A commercial area is planned for the northwest part of the neighbourhood, and a stormwater management pond is located in the northeast. A large park is located on a prominent high point in the middle of the neighbourhood.
The neighbourhood is named after W. J. Magrath, who was the first president of the Alberta Curling Association and one of the organizers of the Highland Curling and Bowling Club. Mr. Magrath may be best known for the extravagant home that he built on Ada Boulevard, a street which he named after his wife, Ada. Magrath Heights follows the tradition of naming the streets after noted individuals whose names begin with the same letter of the neighbourhood. Some of these streets include Massey, McKinney, Martell, May, MacNeil, and Malone. Mr. Massey was Canada’s first native-born Governor-General from 1952-1959. Charles May was an Edmonton Alderman, Mayor and a prominent builder and contractor.
Joseph MacNeil has been Archbishop of Edmonton since 1973. Henry Martell was an outstanding athlete who was inducted into the Edmonton Sports Hall of Fame, the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. Right Reverend Joseph McMillan Malone was a community leader and Canadian Army chaplain. Louise Crummy McKinney was elected a member of the Alberta legislature in 1917and was know as one of the “famous five” for her contribution to the advancement of woman’s political rights in Canada.