Significance Summary:

This site is significant because: 
- It is one of only four historic lawn bowling greens extant in Calgary. 
- Plumbing contractor Frederick Hamilton Lepper (1882-1974), who served as a city alderman from 1937 to 1938, was the club's founding president. 
- William R. Reader, Superintendent of Parks and Recreation from 1913 to 1942, was responsible for work (presumably landscaping) in front of the club's south fence in 1936. 
- It is a public social/recreational lawn bowling facility catering largely to the local neighbourhood. (Landmark) 
- Typical configuration for lawn bowling clubhouse with elongated, single storey, wood structure with pitched rooflines and open verandah for seats facing the bowling greens. (Design)

Statement of Significance

Description:

The Bow Valley Lawn Bowling Club is a bowling green occupying about half a city block. It is City property and has been leased to the club since 1932. The original clubhouse has been recently renovated. The building is a single storey, wood frame structure, and features; pitched roofline with cross gables, dormers, and open verandah facing the bowling greens. This is one of four historic bowling greens that remain extant in the city.

Heritage Value:

- Lawn bowling has been an athletic and social tradition in Calgary since it was first played locally as an organized sport in 1904. It was and is accessible to city residents of all income levels and social strata. The city once had as many as seven lawn bowling organization concurrently, and players have participated in city, provincial, and national tournaments, and have hosted international players.
- Plumbing contractor Frederick Hamilton Lepper (1882-1974), who served as a city alderman from 1937 to 1938, was the club's founding president.
- William R. Reader, Superintendent of Parks and Recreation from 1913 to 1942, was responsible for work (presumably landscaping) in front of the club's south fence in 1936.

Character Defining Elements:

The character defining elements of the Bow Valley Club include:
- single storey, wood frame structure with pitched roof and cross gable configuration
- open verandah facing the bowling greens
- overhead pole lighting / wires for night time flood lighting
- large open grassed bowling greens.

Source: City of Calgary Historical Resources webpage