New Recreation Facilities Project

To meet our growing city’s need for recreation opportunities and support the important role recreation plays in building complete communities, The City of Calgary is developing four new recreation facilities; three in the southeast and one in the northwest. The facilities respond to a need for increased service in these areas and are designed to meet the specific needs of the surrounding communities.

Core amenities and financing for the projects was approved by Council in June of 2012.

The City of Calgary is overseeing the planning, design and construction of all four facilities, a process that reflects extensive community research and engagement. The finished facilities will provide great spaces to play, learn, grow and connect and are a critical for developing active, cultural, vibrant and complete communities. Learn more about each facility below:

  • Learn more about Quarry Park

    Quarry Park (Remington YMCA) Recreation Facility​​ (Complete)

  • Learn more about Rocky Ridge

    Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge​​​ (Complete)

  • Learn more about Great Plains

    Great Plains Recreation Facility​​ (Complete)

  • Learn more about Seton

    Brookfield Residential YMCA at Seton​​

Work in progress

Seton and Rocky Ridge facilities are currently under construction. Remington YMCA in Quarry Park opened to the public on July 1, 2016 and Great Plains Recreation Facility opened on September 1, 2016.

Research & Engagement

The City worked closely with community advisory groups in the southeast and northwest to develop design concepts for each facility. Community advisory group membership includes representatives from Calgary Arts Development, Sport Calgary and the surrounding communities. Members of the public also had the opportunity to provide feedback on initial designs during open houses in 2011 and 2012. For more information about the guiding research and engagement that contributed to facility designs, click on the links below.

Check out the full Functional Program and Concept Design.for the New Recreation Facility Project.

Contact the community advisory groups:

Group name Email
Northwest Community Advisory Group

northwestcag@gmail.com

​South East Calgary Recreation Society (SECRS)

secrs1@gmail.com

Vendor information

Wondering about career opportunities or renting space for your business in one of the new recreation facilities? Check our FAQ.

New Recreation Facilities Project Questions & Answers

Why is The City investing in four new recreation facilities?

Calgarians have told us the provision of recreation opportunities is important to them and that The City of Calgary has a responsibility to provide affordable access to quality recreation and leisure opportunities. The public benefit of recreation is further reinforced by The City’s policy vision, in the form of Imagine Calgary, the Municipal Development Plan, the Recreation Master Plan and Council’s Fiscal Plan. These documents highlight the integral role recreation plays in building and sustaining active, cultural, vibrant and complete communities.

In 2012, Council approved core amenities for the four new recreation facilities to meet our growing city’s need for quality recreation opportunities in the southeast and northwest.​

How were locations chosen each facility?

Site selection analysis included an evaluation of the following criteria for determining suitability and need:

  • Sufficient developable land
  • Ability to accommodate a variety of indoor and outdoor amenities
  • Opportunity to develop a community hub to bring people together
  • Population growth
  • Possible impacts to existing recreation facilities

How do the facility designs reflect public input?

Each facility was designed with the needs of the surrounding communities in mind. Core amenities were proposed based on extensive research and community engagement. The City worked closely with community advisory groups in the northwest and southeast, and sought additional feedback from Calgary’s sport and arts communities through focus groups with Sport Calgary advisory groups and Calgary Arts Development. The public was invited to attend design information sessions and public open houses.

How much will this cost?

The Council-approved budget for the development of all four facilities is $480 million. This include budget for construction, site development, cost escalation, land purchases and contingency. The approximate costs for each facility are listed below:

  • Seton: $193M
  • Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge: $192M
  • Remington YMCA (Quarry Park): $63M
  • Great Plains: $33M

Why is The City not operating these facilities? How will a third-party operator model guarantee affordable and equitable access to these facilities?

The City of Calgary has had success using a third-party operated model for recreation facilities. This model is aimed at ensuring the sustainability of these facilities without the need for additional public funding for operations, lifecycle and capital expansion costs. Using this model, the operator is responsible for cost-recovery and establishing reserves while ensuring goods and services are within market pricing.

This model allows The City to deliver the best services possible in an efficient and cost-effective way. Third-party operators offer business acumen and established proprietary processes to ensure facilities are operated with integrity. These agreements also ensure service delivery models are based on collaboration between the operator and The City to achieve common objectives.

The City’s Public Use Policy (CSP031) requires that partner operated facilities are accessible to the public without discrimination as to ability to pay. This includes setting reasonable fees that are not restrictive and making the facility available for public use through programs, rentals and walk-ins.

How were the operators for each of the facilites determined?

The City of Calgary issued a Request for Proposals as part of an open, transparent and competitive procurement process for operators at each of the four new recreation facilities. The RFP outlined The City’s vision for ensuring the new facilities yield public benefit per The City’s Triple Bottom Line Policy (Social, Environmental and Economic). Further, The City’s interest in the asset and the operation of the asset is well-protected under the operating agreement. The successful bidders for the RFP process are:

  • Seton: YMCA Calgary
  • Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge​: YMCA Calgary
  • Remington YMCA (Quarry Park): YMCA Calgary
  • Great Plains: Canlan Ice Sports

This information has no legal status and cannot be used as an official interpretation of the various bylaws, codes and regulations currently in effect. The City of Calgary accepts no responsibility to persons relying solely on this information. Web pages are updated periodically. ​

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