Riley area improvements

Established Area and Growth Change Strategy Riley Area Improvements

Formerly called Kensington Area Projects.

We will be making streetscape and public realm improvements in Sunnyside, Hillhurst, West Hillhurst and Kensington Village as part of the Established Areas Growth and Change Strategy.

Project Update – January 2023

The final phase of engagement is complete for the transportation and open spaces projects for the Riley Area Improvements (formerly called Kensington Area Projects). The What We Heard Report on each of the project elements can be found here.

Open spaces projects

The Grasshopper Hill and Kensington Plaza projects are in the procurement preparation stage and construction is anticipated to start spring 2023. Because of the cost estimate increases we have seen, the Riley Area Fitness Park, and café will not be completed as part of the Riley Area Improvements.

Transportation projects:

The City has seen across-the-board cost estimate increases for both materials and labour on projects. We are currently reviewing the designs for 19 Street N.W. and 2 Avenue N.W.

About the Riley area improvement projects

Grasshopper Hill off-leash park

This open space project will address ongoing erosion issues and inaccessible trails, and include a new trail, staircases and lookout locations.

Kensington Plaza

The design for the plaza includes many features that were prioritized through public engagement. Work in the plaza will include enhanced shade and seating areas and enhanced sidewalks. The goal for the plaza is to enhance it as a destination, gathering point and flexible community space in the neighbourhood’s vibrant business district.

Riley Area Café

The City of Calgary continues to see cost increases on several projects that are in active design. These across the board cost increases include material and labour costs that exceed what is expected year-over-year, and have impacted the Riley Area Improvements projects.

The cost increase means we will need to pause the work on the Riley Area Café as part of this project. The designs for the café have been brought to a point where they have the potential to progress forward in the future if, and when, funding becomes available.

Riley Park Fitness

The City of Calgary continues to see cost increases on several projects that are in active design. These across the board cost increases include material and labour costs that exceed what is expected year-over-year, and have impacted the Riley Area Improvements projects.

The cost increase means we will need to pause the work on the Rile Park Fitness area as part of this project. The designs for the fitness area have been brought to a point where they have the potential to progress forward in the future if, and when, funding becomes available.

19 Street N.W.

The design for 19 Street N.W. encourages slower vehicle speeds and is appropriate for all ages and abilities that want to cycle or wheel through the area.

Key elements of the design:

  • On-street wheeling lanes located between the sidewalk and parking lane on both sides of the street.
  • A buffer between parked vehicles and the wheeling lane to reduce the risk of an active mode coming into conflict with a vehicle door swing, and for snow storage.
  • Narrower vehicle lanes to encourage slower vehicle speeds and to provide space for the wheeling lanes.
  • Intersection improvements to visually narrow the road and reduce the crossing distances for pedestrians.
  • Road widening on the east side of the street to incorporate these enhancements.

2 Avenue N.W.

Changes to 2 Avenue N.W. will be between 9A Street and 5A Street N.W. The design discourages short-cutting and encourages slower vehicle speeds by physically and visually narrowing the corridor. The design is also intended to be appropriate for all ages and abilities that want to cycle or wheel through the area.

Key elements of the design:

  • On-street wheeling lanes between the sidewalk and parking lane on both sides of the street.
  • A buffer between parked vehicles and the wheeling lane to reduce the risk of an active mode coming into conflict with a vehicle door swing, and for snow storage.
  • Narrower vehicle lanes to encourage slower vehicle speeds and to provide space for the wheeling lanes.
  • Intersection improvements to visually narrow the road and reduce the crossing distances for pedestrians.

3 Avenue N.W.

The City of Calgary continues to see cost increases on several projects that are in active design. These across the board cost increases include material and labour costs that exceed what is expected year-over-year, and have impacted the Riley Area Improvements projects.

The cost increase means we will need to pause the work on 3 Avenue N.W. as part of this project.

Timelines

  • Phase 3 engagement: Complete
  • Design and Construction: 
    Spring 2022 – Fall 2024

Construction activities are dependent on several factors. Timelines may change due to inclement weather, complexity, supply chain, and/or other unexpected circumstances.

Budget

  • $6.75 million

Contact us

Have questions or want to learn more about the projects? Contact the project team at: Rileyareaprojects@calgary.ca


Related links


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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