Calgary’s First Accessible Outdoor Rink

The Cause

The Parkdale Community Association (PCA) is focused on building a vibrant community and quality of life for our residents and the city of Calgary. The PCA is replacing the outdoor rink, as it has failed an engineering assessment and qualified for a lifecycle fund replacement with the City of Calgary. The PCA is taking this opportunity to create a project which will transform the community for generations to come. We are redesigning our social area, along with the rink replacement, to create access inclusive of people with all abilities.

Specifically, we want to be the first outdoor hockey rink that is fully sledge hockey accessible! We love how outdoor hockey brings boys and girls, young and old, new and experienced together. And we want everyone to enjoy this opportunity. To accomplish this, we need to design and fund our social area replacement, as well as a significant portion of our rink replacement. The scope includes the rink replacement, lighting replacement and the addition of a locker room, creation of accessibility from both parking lots to the change area and to the rink.

These social space upgrades have the potential to be a game changer for the community by bringing people together, growing the volunteer base and making grassroots hockey, recreational skating and community place making a success for generations to come. This project will enhance the financial viability in creating new programs and rental opportunities. Parkdale is celebrating 65 years and this project is building for the future and the next 65 years.

Who Will it Benefit?

There is a large response from the community and neighbouring communities that make use of the rink. The rink is used by approximately 1600 residents during the winter months. Over 100 volleyball players per day use the rink in the summer for beach volleyball.

Although the rink is well used it has fallen into disrepair and in order for families and individuals to use it safely it needs to be replaced. The rink draws many volunteers and families to the rink for special events and activities and regularly through the week for drop in skating and hockey. As the demographics of the community is changing to an ever increasing number of children in the community of Parkdale, we are seeing an increase of casual use as well.

The replacement project will provide program opportunities such as grassroots hockey, skating lessons, community tournaments, more organized volleyball activities and opportunities for the PCA to host events in the space.

Parkdale is fortunate to have the Foothills Hospital as a neighbour. Our community benefits from their growth and expansion. Many of our residents work and play in Parkdale. With the growing profile of the Foothills Hospital, our community wants to ensure we are providing a great community experience for our residents and public users from the Foothills Hospital.