The City of Calgary has broken ground on a new fieldhouse and library facility to serve residents in the city’s deep southwest.
The Belmont Fieldhouse and Library, a $71.8 million recreation facility located at 210 Avenue and Creekside Boulevard SW, will begin construction this year with an expected completion in 2027.
The building will have 118,000 square feet and have a multi-sport artificial turf field, viewing areas, dressing rooms, washrooms, and admin space. Attached to it will be a 10,000 square foot public library.
Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek said this was an example of what it means to build a future for the city on purpose.
“This project is about championing opportunity and progress for all Calgarians,” she said during a media event on Sept. 10.
“It is about creating spaces where people can learn and grow and play and thrive spaces that reflect the bold and inclusive vision that we hold so close for our city.”
Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean said that the facility is a much-needed recreation space for one of the fastest growing areas in Calgary.
“This facility will be more, so much more than just a building. It will be a gathering place where families can stay active, children can learn and play, and neighbours can connect,” he said.
“The combination of a modern fieldhouse and a full-service library right here in Belmont shows our city’s commitments to building strong, healthy communities in Ward 13, the timing couldn’t be better.”
Heather Johnson, director of recreation and social programs with the City of Calgary, said that this building was a part of the city’s new GamePlan strategy.
“It aims to increase bookable hours at fields, improve access in underserved areas, and ensure that facilities like this are built to meet the evolving needs of Calgarians,” she said.
Integrated buildings and the Foothills Fieldhouse
Barb Gillard with the Calgary Public Library said that the addition of the library to the facility is an investment in equity.
“We are improving access to library spaces and services for an underserved community in Calgary, Belmont. Our city is growing at an incredible rate, and our library system needs to grow alongside of our community,” she said.
“We are here every for every person, every moment, every day, the library in Belmont will be 10,000 square feet of space for the community. It will be filled with reading collections, a children’s library, open seating, an outdoor learning space and public meeting rooms.”
Stacey Hatcher, executive director of the Calgary United Soccer Association, who also contributed to the GamePlan strategy, said a facility like this honours Calgary’s sports history, where dreams begin and skills are built.
“Now, I know some people hear athletic complex and think, ‘great another place for my kid to lose a mitt, a shin pad, a coat,’ whatever it may be, but I see something else,” she said.
“I see a space where kids will grow and teams will thrive and families will gather, and I see a future where sport is accessible, inclusive and celebrated.”
Johnson said the combination of a fieldhouse and library allows the City of Calgary to make better use of a piece of land, providing more services in a finite space. She said that the partnership between libraries and recreation spaces is a good one.
“Obviously, I’m highly biased about this, but I think the integration of library services and recreation services is a win for everyone,” she said.
Mayor Gondek also noted the city’s successful combination of services on city land, including places like the Vivo Centre, which was recently expanded.
“That’s the way we should be doing things, integrating services and allowing the community to be able to come together in one hub,” she said.
While this fieldhouse will have a multi-sport turf, this type of facility is different from the Multisport Fieldhouse planned at the Foothills Athletic Park, Johnson said.
That building will not only have turf, but it will have hardcourt space and a track.
The Belmont parcel also contains space for further expansion of recreational opportunities.
