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Building Playgrounds with Parks Foundation
This year, Parks Foundation Calgary is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Building Communities program. Through this program, they have supported nearly 160 playground build and improvement projects.
One of the many great benefits of this decentralized approach to building playgrounds is a greater diversity in the completed projects. New playgrounds in Calgary can differ immensely depending on the wants and needs of the community.
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Parks Foundation Calgary is instrumental in the creation of many of Calgary’s playgrounds. In many cities, decisions about playground replacement and design are very centralized with little input from the community.
In Calgary, however, if your school or community wants a new playground, you can help make that happen. It’s a big undertaking, but Parks Foundation Calgary is here to help you make your project a success. Their Building Communities grant program offers more than just funding. They provide support throughout the entire process, including project management, budgeting, fundraising, volunteer recruitment and more.
Photo By: Dana Wheatley
If your school or community has a playground they would like to upgrade, visit the Parks Foundation Calgary website at parksfdn.com/building-communities for applications guidelines, and more information.
The deadlines for the grant program are February 1st, May 1st and October 1st. All applications are reviewed by a volunteer Advisory Committee with final approval given by the Parks Foundation Calgary Board.
Here are some of the projects that Parks Foundation Calgary has supported. They are great playgrounds to visit, and they also help illustrate some of the directions your project can go.
Haultain Playground
Photo By: Dana Wheatley
Nellie Breen - Inglewood
It was completed in 2008 and has an amazing gateway entry highlighting all the donors and supporters of the project. The gateway really illustrates how much support playgrounds need! More than just a playground, this shady park is a community space, featuring a gazebo, adirondack chairs, picnic tables, and a pathway. It’s truly an intergenerational space. 703-14 St SE
Mills Park Play Space - Inglewood
It was completed in 2017 and located less than a kilometer away from the Nellie Breen playground. These two playgrounds juxtapose each other quite well - they are both great but very different! The Mills Park playground has a natural focus featuring logs, sand, and loose parts. You can easily visit both parks in one stop to Inglewood. 1520-9 Ave SE
North Glenmore Playground - North Glenmore
It was completed in 2017 and is a natural-style playground which includes many rock and log features, a hill slide and a brand new zipline! 21 st Street and 52 nd Ave SW
North Glenmore Playground
Photo By: Dana Wheatley
Queen Elizabeth Elementary School - Hillhurst
Completed in 2017, it features a traditional playground and beautiful naturalization space with large rocks and plants. The area surrounding the playground is fantastic and very parklike, particularly for a school playground which often lacks any shade or greenery. 512-18 St NW
Hidden Valley Playground - Hidden Valley
It features traditional playground equipment with a twist. The playground is built on two tiers with large rocks as retaining walls, which creates some unique play opportunities. 118 Hidden Way NW
Hidden Valley Playground
Photo By: Dana Wheatley
Haultain Playground - Beltline
Right next to the Calgary Parks Foundation office, you can find a traditional inclusive playground. If you are visiting the Parks Foundation office (located in the historical Haultain school house) you can stop for a play at this excellent playground. 225-13 th Ave SW
Harvest Hills Community Hub - Harvest Hills
This park includes educational nature pods, traditional and natural play elements, as well as community seating and an event bulletin board. More neighbourhoods are considering spaces like this, which extend past the playground pieces to create genuine community spaces. 178 Harvest Glen Way NE
Parks and Playgrounds to watch for!
Springbank Hill Community Park - on a 6.2 acre parcel of land, the community is turning this space into a real hub. They are planning a community garden, traditional and natural play features, an amphitheater, and a natural existing aspen forest. 7541-26 th Ave SW
Wildwood Community Playground - The traditional playground was completed in 2018, but Wildwood Community Playground will be adding an Indigenous component to the space. This community felt it was integral to acknowledge our connection to Indigenous culture at their park. White Oak Crescent and Spruce Drive SW
Photos and Story By: Dana Wheatley
