While work is already well underway, ceremonial ground was broken on a massive new indoor and outdoor recreation facility for Calgary’s northeast.

Stripping and grading work with heavy machinery provided the backdrop for the dirt-turning event to mark the official construction start of the 35-acre, $170 million Northeast Athletic Complex.

The development will include a 162,500-square-foot indoor fieldhouse, a competition-ready cricket pitch, four outdoor artificial turf fields, covered spectator spaces, green space, picnic areas and playgrounds.

Ward 5 Coun. Raj Dhaliwal, who has pushed hard for the northeast recreation facility since he was first elected, said today was the culmination of that effort.

“What I want you to see is what I see. I see a Saturday morning in a couple, three, four years whenever that is, not far from now, kids running onto the field, parents and grandparents in the stands, neighbours from every background cheering side by side,” he said.

“This is what we are breaking ground on today.”

Previously, when lobbying for the funding for the project, Dhaliwal had said that northeast Calgary had become a victim of “recreation discrimination.” He said this helps move the needle on quality of life and access to recreation in the northeast.

“I’ve always said I’ve never looked at the northeast and seen a problem to solve. I’ve always seen the northeast as potential,” he said.

“In our young people, in our small businesses, in every family that chooses to build a life here. I always say, Ward 5 and the northeast is worth fighting for, and I’m going to keep fighting for it.”

Mayor Jeromy Farkas said that it was an exciting milestone for northeast Calgary communities. It was the start of a big commitment to provide recreation infrastructure across the city.

“We’re making an investment in the future of a city, and we’re making a commitment to the families, young people, and communities will benefit from this facility for generations to come,” he said.

“Because when we talk about building a great city, we’re not just talking about roads, bridges, buildings, or water pipes. We’re talking about community infrastructure. We’re talking about creating places where families can come together, where young people can discover their passions, and where neighbours can connect with one another, and that’s exactly what this new Northeast Athletic Complex represents.”

Filling a large facility gap for cricket and soccer

Ana Feijoo with the Future Cricket Stars Academy said the groundbreaking represented more than just a future new facility – it meant that cricket can now have a legitimate home in Calgary.

“It represents a chance for us to grow, for our athletes’ potential, and for the next generation to pursue dreams that many of our current national players could only imagine,” she said.

“It also shows what can happen when a growing community is heard, when its needs are recognized, and when people come together around a shared vision to make meaningful change possible.”

Calgary’s cricket community has long been after more places to play, with very few pitches to play on combined with a rapidly growing sport. Two years ago, groups were concerned that without the addition of new pitches, the growth of the sport could be curtailed.

A recent report from the City of Calgary showed that cricket fields were one of the most utilized recreation surfaces by bookable hours.

“We see firsthand what cricket can do. It builds confidence, discipline, leadership, and friendship,” Feijoo said.

“It brings people from different backgrounds together and gives young athletes a place to belong. As the community grows, so has our vision for what cricket in Calgary can become.”

Bernie Morton, president of the Calgary Minor Soccer Association, said that there are 33,000 Calgarians playing indoor soccer right now. He said 7,000 games will be crowded into Calgary’s existing indoor playing surfaces.

“Think of what that means: Thousands of kids and adults staying active, making friends, and learning about teamwork and being part of something that is incredibly positive,” he said.

“In a world increasingly dominated by screens, we need more of these types of facilities and not less, because investing in recreation is investing in physical activity, and investing in physical activity is investing in physical and mental health.”

Morton noted that outdoor fields are essential, but indoor fields allow athletes to continue the sport year-round.

“We have a GamePlan. City council has important decisions to make about that GamePlan,” he said.  

“We’ve started to move the ball down the pitch. Now let’s make sure that we finish the play because when we invest in sport, when we invest in facilities, we’re not just building fields. We’re building healthier kids, stronger communities, and a stronger Calgary.”

The expected opening date for the facility is early 2029, according to the City of Calgary.