New Quarry Park and Great Plains recreation facilities celebrate the start of construction

Today MLA Wayne Cao and Mayor Naheed Nenshi joined special guests in southeast Calgary to commemorate the start of construction of both the new Quarry Park and Great Plains recreation facilities.

“This is a significant milestone worth celebrating by The City, our partners and most importantly, the citizens and recreational groups that are in great need of these facilities,” says Mayor Nenshi. “The Great Plains and Quarry Park recreation facilities will add a new vibrancy to their communities, providing an accessible space for everyone to enjoy.”

The Quarry Park recreation facility located in southeast Calgary will include amenities such as a fitness centre, running track, gymnasium, lap and leisure pool, multi-purpose rooms, daycare and a branch of the Calgary Public Library. The approximate 100,000-square-foot facility will be operated by YMCA Calgary. Work on-site began in October and the facility is anticipated to open late in 2015.

In addition, Calgary’s city-wide ice sports community will be served by the approximate 85,000-square-foot Great Plains recreation facility, featuring two regulation-size ice arenas, a training/fitness room and a full-service restaurant. Construction is scheduled to begin in the new year. Canlan Ice Sports will operate the facility when doors open in 2015.

The City is funding the complete $63-million cost to plan, develop and construct the new facility at Quarry Park. The cost of the Great Plains facility  is funded  between The City ($23 million) and $10 million from the Government of Alberta’s Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI).

“We are proud to support the development of the new Great Plains recreation facility through MSI funding,” says Doug Griffiths, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “Investing in families and communities is a pillar of our Building Alberta Plan, and facilities like this enrich quality of life for all Albertans. ”

The new Quarry Park and Great Plains facilities are two of  four new recreation facilities in development by the City of Calgary to meet our growing city’s need for convenient access to recreation opportunities and support the important role recreation plays in building complete communities. Each facility is being designed to meet the specific needs of each community, with the vision and  proposed amenities determined through extensive engagement with Calgarians, community leaders and numerous sports and cultural advisory groups.

To learn more about each facility in development and the latest updates, visit www.calgary.ca/newreccentres.

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