Parks and Playground Amenities Program
The Parks and Playground Amenities Program (PAPA) focuses on revitalizing park spaces where investment is needed most, ensuring that all Calgarians have access to safe, welcoming, and high-quality outdoor environments. By nurturing inclusive park spaces and expanding equitable amenities across the city, the program helps reduce service gaps and creates opportunities for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to connect with nature and with one another.
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Calgary's community parks and playgrounds are a great place for Calgarians of all ages to walk, jog, relax and play.
About PAPA
In November 2025 during the annual budget adjustment process, Council approved an additional $3 million towards the Parks and Playground Amenities (PAPA) program. This funding was approved for community park upgrades and new infrastructure, and to advance our commitment to expanding equitable access to park amenities across the city.
Some projects include a public engagement process, while others will move directly into construction. Regular lifecycle and maintenance activities - such as playground replacements - are also underway to enhance neighbourhoods and broaden the range of play opportunities available. Additional projects are supported through the ENMAX Legacy Capital Fund and the Established Areas Growth and Change Strategy program, helping ensure resources are distributed in a way that strengthens communities citywide.
We have been working closely with Council and community groups to progress projects across the city, and through an intake evaluation that considered equity, missing amenities, and emerging sport, approximately 53 funded projects with an estimated total budget of $19.5M have been approved, as of January 2026.
Parks Foundation Partnership Projects
Inclusive Playgrounds
New and upgraded playgrounds
Recreational amenities
Infrastructure and amenity improvements
Playground optimization
Frequently Asked Questions
How are projects selected, prioritized, and evaluated?
Projects are first identified by community members or Parks and Open Spaces, then reviewed by Neighbourhood Partnership Coordinators. Those with community support move into a formal intake process, where they're evaluated against the following criteria:
- Readiness - community support, deliverable within 1-2 years
- Risk Reduction - safety, reputational, environmental, or operational concerns
- Equity - underserved communities or park users
- Amenity Priority - infrastructure gaps or unmet needs
- Community-Driven Initiatives - alignment with strategic initiatives (e.g., Place Matters, Creating Coventry)
- Policy Support - links to Council-approved policies or strategies (e.g., Local Area Plans)
Selection also weighs project readiness to break ground, opportunities to leverage existing RFSOs, partner funding, and streamlined procurement, plus previously submitted but unfunded amenity requests.
How can communities get involved?
First call 311 to connect with your Neighbourhood Partnership Coordinator for an initial project review. Projects with sufficient support and readiness can enter the formal intake process and can be added to the funding queue.
How does The City ensure projects align with community needs?
Priority goes to projects shaped by community input, matched against the evaluation criteria above, with a focus on equity and underserved communities.
Will there be public engagement for all projects?
Some projects include public engagement to gather community input; others proceed directly to construction based on existing plans.
What is the timeline for implementation?
Projects meeting the criteria can be delivered in 1–2 years, scheduled around resource availability and procurement timelines.
How does the program benefit Calgarians?
The PAPA program expands access to community connection in our greenspaces by enhancing existing parks and amenities, supporting overall wellbeing.
What role do partnerships play?
Parks Foundation Calgary and other agencies help plan, design, and deliver projects - particularly in underserved communities - with Parks Foundation Calgary supporting grant writing and community-led initiatives.