Calgary soccer clubs will add two more outdoor fields to their bench as construction has begun on the Rocky Ridge Athletic Park.
The $25 million project that was kicked off on Monday was completely funded by the City of Calgary and is expected to open in the fall of 2026.
Kerensa Swanson Fromherz, Director of Public Spaces Delivery at the City of Calgary, said the large, rectangular astroturf field can be used earlier in the spring and later in the fall, compared to grass.
The park is located next to the Shane Homes YMCA and could be the first phase of a broader Rocky Ridge athletic complex, which could include a new fieldhouse if the city remains committed to strategic investment, according to Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek.
The mayor said the city is actively working to secure the support needed to keep things “moving forward.”
The project began mobilization work, including utilities, late last year. Washrooms, parking and lighting will be among its amenities.
This development marks the first of the city’s new GamePlan Link model. GamePlan aims to build one athletic park field per 22,000 residents by having a total of 89 artificial turf, class A or class B fields by 2050, according to the City of Calgary website.
“GamePlan aims to deliver between 10 and 13 indoor field facilities and expanded bookable hours at outdoor parks like this one by two and a half times,” Gondek said.
Gondek said she was proud to support a project like this.
“It’s a clear investment in the well-being, the health and the future of this community. It’s the kind of infrastructure that’s long been missing up here in the northwest, and it’s the type of infrastructure that Calgarians have been asking for,” she said.
“When we talk about building a great city, it’s not just talking about big towers and roads,” she said.
Increase in the number of playing fields a consistent message from Calgarians: Johnson
Director of Recreation and Social Programs in the City of Calgary, Heather Johnson, said that early next year, a “prioritized capital list and an implementation plan focusing on making thoughtful, sustainable investments in recreation facilities, programs and services, will be brought to city council, including the potential Rocky Ridge field house.
Johnson said she could “really get used to doing this,” referring to building new sporting facilities.
“We’ve consistently heard from our sports partners and Calgarians that we need to increase playfield access in the city,” said Johnson.
“I’m excited to not only break ground here in Rocky Ridge, but to keep the momentum going as we invest in GamePlan and the future of public recreation in Calgary.”
Ward 1 Coun. Sonya Sharp, who used to live in Rocky Ridge, said that she was emotional when visiting the construction site.
“I’ve got kids that are going to come play in these fields,” she said.
“We’ve heard from families, from local soccer clubs, and from young players who just want the chance to practice and compete close to home. This park is our answer. These new fields will directly address the shortage of available space in Ward 1 and citywide, giving our growing northwest communities the quality facilities they’ve been asking for.”
Bernie Morton, Vice President of the Calgary Minor Soccer Association, said today was an important milestone for the 30,000 youth soccer players in Calgary as a whole, not just the northwest.
