Southwest Calgary born and raised, Mike Vernon knows his way in and around this city the way he knows his way around a game-, series- and title-saving overtime glove save off Stan Smyl.

Three decades ago, the small, acrobatic goaltender morphed into an authentic hometown hero when he helped deliver a Stanley Cup championship to the Calgary Flames.

Urban planning experts offer tips on how to shop for your next neighbourhood

Is it a neighbourhood with a lake so you don't need a vacation cottage?

Or an upgraded, older neighbourhood with lots of housing choices?

Perhaps a community with a main street so "you don't have to jump in your car to get a quart of milk?"

When urban commentators weigh in on what homebuyers, first-time or otherwise, should be looking for when they chose a place to live the emphasis is on community amenities – or as Greg Morrow puts it, looking "outside the four walls" of the home, to the DNA of the neighbourhood.

In order to address changing needs and a growing amount of visitors to Stanley Park, City of Calgary Parks is encourage the public to review design concepts and proposed management strategies with an open house June 15.

"We hope to enhance visitors' experience and boost the park's environmental health through redevelopment," said Keith Parker, parks manager in charge of planning and development. "We are working with a number of stakeholders to identify refurbishment needs as well as management practices that best balance the needs of all park users."

The open house will be held at the Parks Administration Building at the park. Park representatives will be on hand as well as representatives from Stantec consulting team. There will be displays and an opportunity to comment on the draft vision, goals and guiding principles for the management strategies as well as a review of two design concepts for the park.