Calgarians looking to get active in their area now have a new tool to help them find a place for physical activity.
Launched on Oct. 13, the interactive map from Sport Calgary makes finding Calgary’s recreation centres a leisurely experience.
Candice Goudie, president of Sport Calgary, said the map has been in the works since spring, after a report recommended a centralized place to find places to play. The product is exactly that, and she said it was made with people in mind.
“It really is trying to bring all of that information together to the best of our ability,” said Goudie.
“To deliver and make available a tool that’s pretty comprehensive and inclusive.”
The by-Calgarians-for-Calgarians sentiment rings true in several ways, she explained, adding that the decision to elect local innovation studio Appè Latte to develop the database reflects that.
Available online, the map looks similar to Google Maps, but shows only the locations and information for recreation facilities across the city. The interface includes a guide in the left-hand corner and a directory where users can search for spaces by sport.
Goudie clarified that the online tool isn’t for booking facilities — it’s for finding the name and address of where users can book. She said that it was created for athletes and sports clubs in equal parts.
“It really is for sport operators to find what else might work for them to have their programming,” said Goudie.
“Then second is any kind of Calgarian, and whether you are new to Calgary or you’re from Calgary, there’s always places to play that we didn’t maybe know about.”
She said that with many sports groups being at capacity, the city needs more recreation facilities, and that while this tool does not solve this, it does help organizations be innovative about where they schedule their meets.
“We hope that this is a way that maybe we can look at other solutions, which is certainly not a solution for the lack of infrastructure in Calgary,” said Goudie.
“But what church basement might have a suitable gymnasium? Which schools are available? What outdoor spaces do we have available that we can look at?”
Residents can access the map online through Sport Calgary using this link: https://map.sportcalgary.ca/en.
