GamePLAN: reimaging recreation in Calgary
Reimagining recreation in Calgary GamePLAN
GamePLAN is a vision and strategy for the future of public recreation in Calgary for the next 25 years. It will help increase investment in recreation facilities, programs and services throughout Calgary. It sets a service level standard that responds to record levels of population growth and aging infrastructure.
What recreation in Calgary looks like now
Public recreation
In Calgary, the public recreation system is made up of publicly-accessible facilities, amenities and programs that support and encourage active living, health, well-being and community.
City-operated facilities
The City owns, operates and delivers programs at over 50 recreation facilities, such as:
- Southland and Village Square Leisure Centres
- Community aquatic & fitness centres such as Killarney Aquatic & Recreation Centre
- Arenas such as Rose Kohn/Jimmie Condon
- Fieldhouses such as Calgary Soccer Centre and Shouldice Dome
- Athletic parks
- North Mount Pleasant and Wildflower Arts Centres
Partner-operated facilities
The City owns more than 200 recreation facilities or amenities that are operated by partners. Examples include:
- YMCAs such as the Brookfield Residential YMCA at Seton
- Recreation centres such as MNP Community & Sport Centre, Vivo for Healthier Generations, the Genesis Centre, Trico Centre and Westside Recreation Centre
- Outdoor pools run by the Calgary Outdoor Swimming Pool Association
- Over 180 Community Associations
The City also supports over 50 social recreation organizations (SROs), like Sport Calgary, Calgary Minor Soccer Association, Calgary United Soccer Association, Calgary and District Amateur Softball Association, Calgary Curling Club and Calgary Lawn Bowling Club.
Why do we need GamePLAN?
Calgary’s public recreation system is under strain from aging facilities, rising costs and growing demand. Investments in public recreation have not kept pace with population growth, accessibility needs and diversification. Without investment and a plan, the system will degrade, facilities will close and services will decline.
What does GamePLAN aim to do?
Guide service decisions to help remove barriers to participation
Inform policies to adapt and grow services
Strengthen partnerships with service providers and communities
Improve access and services in the inner and outer city
Secure dedicated funding for the future
Promote a new role for public recreation in civic life
Council-approved service level: Making Waves
On Feb. 25, 2025, City Council approved the Making Waves service level scenario. This is a significant step forward in revitalizing public recreation in Calgary. Making Waves requires an annual investment of $200M to $250M and sets the direction for future budget cycles. The Making Waves service level will:
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Increase services to match population growth
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Build more pools, ice rinks, fieldhouses and athletic parks
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Provide up to 40% more swim lessons per capita
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Increase the number of Calgarians living within 5km of a pool
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Allow for 25% more bookable hours at ice rinks
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Increase bookable hours at indoor fields and athletic parks by 2.5 times
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Rebuild inner-city recreation centres like Bob Bahan, Renfrew & Killarney
How GamePLAN will improve public recreation
Arenas
Some smaller, single-sheet arenas will be replaced with larger, multi sheet arenas to be more cost-effective and allow more users to use a facility at the same time. Multi-sheet arenas help meet the high demand for ice time, while being better suited for programming, tournaments and a range of activities and community needs.
Any new arenas will be scaled to the needs of the community and consider public feedback.
Community associations
Engagement with community associations and social recreation organizations over the past two years gathered input on how we can work together to provide recreation opportunities and extend City programs to communities. We will not reclaim any sites leased to community associations.
Downtown and inner-city areas
We are committed to upgrading and modernizing inner-city facilities.
At Bob Bahan, Renfrew and Killarney, we plan to create state-of-the-art facilities featuring a 25-meter, 10-lane pool, a teaching pool and leisure amenities. This will allow a variety of activities to happen at the same time, such as swim club training, swimming lessons, aquafit classes, lane swimming and walking.
Plans also include a multi-purpose room for classes such as yoga and a gym for activities like pickleball and basketball. These improvements will ensure communities have access to diverse and modern recreation options.
Fieldhouses (indoor fields)
By 2049, there will be between 10 and 13 indoor field facilities in Calgary. This represents 75-95 percent of the service standard (one facility per 150,000 residents).
Pools
We have many small, single-use recreation facilities that are up to four times more expensive to operate per square foot when compared to larger, modern facilities.
Future aquatic facilities will be designed to be more efficient usually including a lane pool, teaching pool and leisure pool for swim clubs, lane swimmers, swimming lessons and families to use at the same time.
Any new facilities will be scaled to the needs of the community and consider public feedback.
Velodrome
We don’t have plans to replace the velodrome at this time, but we are committed to working with recreation partners to understand their needs.
Who helped us develop GamePLAN?
Between November 2022 and February 2024, we surveyed more than 6,000 members of the public about their perceptions of, experiences with and desires for the public recreation system in Calgary.
We also hosted several engagement opportunities for community and sport partners, including workshops, webinars, empathy interviews, one-on-one meetings and two online surveys.
Learn more about engagement