Anderson Road S.E. pathway project

The City is building a pathway along Anderson Road to close a major gap in the pathway network and improve east–west connections for people walking, wheeling, and biking. This pathway links several important community destinations, and a continuous pathway will make it easier and safer for people of all ages and abilities to reach them.

The pathway will provide a more direct connection to places such as the Fish Creek Library, Trico Centre and its baseball diamonds, St. William School, local playgrounds, off leash areas, and the Bonavista Downs disc golf course and ball fields, along with other destinations throughout the community.

We’re at the beginning of our community outreach. We’ve shared initial information with adjacent residents and local community associations, and we’ll continue to provide updates as the project moves forward. As part of this outreach, signs will be installed in the parks to direct people to the project webpage.

This spring, we’ll be visiting the off‑leash parks to speak with community members about how they access the area and whether there are small details we can incorporate to make the pathway work well for everyone.  

The pathway location was chosen through a detailed feasibility analysis that considered many factors, including impacts to the off‑leash area, safety, accessibility, grades, constructability, and cost. After balancing all of these elements, the proposed alignment was identified as the most workable option.

Experience in other parts of Calgary shows that pathways and off‑leash areas can successfully share green spaces. The pathway is expected to welcome more dog walkers while also providing a family‑friendly route to many nearby destinations.

In established communities, shared spaces like pathways and off-leash areas offer unique opportunities for people and pets to enjoy the outdoors together. While there are limited locations to place these amenities, Calgary’s experience has shown that residents can successfully share these areas and foster a positive environment for all users.

Across the city, from Parkland Boulevard SE and 28th Street SE to the Inglewood River Promenade, pathways and off-leash areas often coexist, helping us learn how these spaces can function safely and inclusively. To support this shared use, clear signage will be placed on pathways to let cyclists and other users know when they are entering a “shared space,” promoting awareness and cooperation among everyone enjoying the community.

The project team explored Willacy Drive as a possible route and reviewed several options, including shifting the south curb to create space for a roadside path, upgrading the existing sidewalk, and designating the street as a shared space for both bikes and cars.

Relocating the curb was found to be infeasible because the remaining road width would not allow for emergency access while keeping parking on one side of the street. Placing the pathway in the south boulevard was also ruled out, as it would require removing mature trees and working within their root zones, which the project aims to avoid. 

Using Willacy Drive as a shared street would reduce the amount of new construction, but it would not improve safety for all users. Accessibility is also a key goal for this project, and the existing sidewalk is too narrow for two strollers or wheelchairs to pass safely.

The project does not include removing off‑leash areas. The design will maintain access for all people using the space currently as well as make it more accessible for others, including seniors, people with mobility challenges, people using strollers, and others who may find the current conditions difficult.

Relocating the existing fence and providing an additional fence were considered when determining the preferred path location. To avoid reducing the size of the off-leash area and to provide continuous accessibility for path users, a new fence was not included in this design.

All intersections are being reviewed as part of the project’s safety assessment. The design will follow current City standards for pathway and intersection safety. Upgraded measures, like rectangular rapid flashing beacons, are all being considered where found to be warranted. 

Sound walls are not part of the project scope. This project focuses on completing the pathway connection along Anderson Road SE.