More than a thousand Calgarians gathered at Haultain Park in the southwest last weekend to re-imagine the future of Calgary parks at the annual ParksFest.
Visitors cast their ballots and a total of $50,000 was awarded to three local projects for the first-ever Energize Awards. It marked the 10th anniversary of Park Foundation Calgary’s Building Communities program.
“ParksFest was the perfect opportunity for Calgarians and communities to come together and celebrate their collective achievements in helping to add fun and play to our city,” said Sheila Taylor, CEO of Parks Foundation Calgary, in a prepared release.
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“Our city is known around the world for its incredible green spaces. Thank you to the tireless work of Calgarians and supporters who believe that parks make cities vibrant and healthy.”
ParksFest also featured games, carnival snacks, stage performances and the opportunity for people to learn about projects unfolding in their communities.
In the end, the winners of the Energize Awards included:
- St. Pius Elementary Playground – $25,000
- St. Bede Playground – $15,000
- Ramsay Inclusive Playground – $10,000
Runners-up received $2,000 each in funding.
Those included:
- Copperfield School Playground
- Earl Grey Playground & Park
- Evanston Creek Community Hub
- Quinterra Legacy Garden
- Riverbend School Playground
- Sunlake Road Playground
The goal of the Building Communities program is to promote stewardship for children and community residents by supporting the development of new and valued park spaces like playgrounds. Any non-profit organization, educational institution, society or group can apply for funding.
Since its inception, Building Communities has supported 160 community projects worth more than $23 million.
