Riley area improvements
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Have questions or want to learn more about the projects? Contact the project team at: Rileyareaprojects@calgary.ca
Mobility - Transportation improvements
Current Status
- 2 Avenue/ 7 Avenue N. W. corridor improvements – was tendered and awarded in Summer 2024 and construction is anticipated to take place in 2025.
- 3 Avenue improvements – was tendered and awarded in Summer 2024 and construction began in October 2024. The north side of the 3 Avenue improvements were completed in December 2024. Construction on the south side of the street will take place in spring of 2025.
- 19 Street N. W. improvements – The design is now complete. Join us in person or virtually at our upcoming info sessions for more information.
Spring 2025 Update to the Community
Join us in-person or online to learn about projects in the area and meet with the project teams.
In-person Open House
Date: Monday, March 3
Time: 4-7 p.m.
Location: Kensington Legion, Royal Canadian Legion #264 (1918 Kensington Rd N.W.)
Virtual Information Session
Date: Tuesday, March 11
Time: Noon- 1 p.m.
Note: A recording will be posted below following the event.
Parking information
- Limited free underground parking is available in the parkade.
- Additional street parking is available in the area.
- Please follow and adhere to the parking signage.
2 Avenue/7 Avenue N.W.
We are improving safety and adding active modes along the 2 Avenue/7 Avenue corridor.
- The design discourages short-cutting and encourages slower vehicle speeds by physically and visually narrowing the corridor.
- It is intended to be appropriate for all ages and abilities that want to cycle or wheel through the area.
- Introducing dedicated wheeling lanes between the curb and parked vehicles.
2 Avenue N.W. improvements
7 Avenue N.W. improvements
The project was tendered and awarded in Summer 2024. Construction work on 2 and 7 Avenue is anticipated to take place in 2025.
3 Avenue N.W.
We are improving the public realm along 3 Avenue N.W. by removing parking on the north side and reallocating the space to widen the sidewalk on both sides.
3 Avenue N.W. improvements
The project was tendered and awarded in Summer 2024 and construction began in October 2025. Construction will be completed in Spring 2025.
19 Street N.W.
We are improving safety, adding active modes and public realm improvements:
- Introducing wider sidewalks and dedicated wheeling lanes by widening the street.
- Adding curb extensions where possible.
The design is now complete. For more information, please join one of our upcoming info sessions on March 3 or March 11 2025. Details are listed at the top of the page.
19 Street N.W. improvements

Project timeline
- Engagement: Complete
- Design: 2024
- Construction start: September 2024
Note: The City has seen across-the-board cost estimate increases for both materials and labour on projects. Construction activities are dependent on several factors. Timelines may change due to inclement weather, complexity, supply chain and/or other unexpected circumstances.
Parks and open spaces improvements
Project Update – December 2024
- Riley Park Fitness Area – Construction is now substantially complete and the park is open for use.
- Grasshopper off-leash park improvements – Now open. Fencing will remain up in the area until the replanting process is complete. We hope to remove the final fencing in 2025 once the newly replanted native vegetation is sufficiently established.
- Kensington Plaza improvements – now complete.
Riley Park Fitness Area
There is a new way to stay active at Riley Park, come by and enjoy the brand new fitness equipment next to the existing playground in the southwest corner of Riley Park, just off 12 Street NW. The uniquely designed training circuit includes a great variety of calisthenic and climbable equipment making it fun for a variety of users. This new convenient, low maintenance and versatile equipment was installed with pour-in-place rubber surfacing.
For the public’s safety and enjoyment, permanent warning signage from the equipment provider will be installed on-site.
Grasshopper Hill off-leash Park Enhancements

We’re excited to share that Grasshopper Hill Off-leash Park has officially re-opened. We have removed the equipment and the site fencing at the cul-de-sacs. These entrances with the new sidewalk connections are now open for use. Selective fencing around the native seed planting will remain in place until seed is established. There are regular openings along the fence to maintain connections to all trails and ensure dogs can freely access the centre of the park.
Over the past year, we have made significant strides in enhancing the park’s native vegetation and resilience. Thanks to your ongoing support and patience, our revegetation initiatives are exceeding expectations. Here is a summary of our progress and ongoing efforts.
Vegetation Growth
- Our efforts to revegetate disturbed areas have yielded exceptional results. The growth we’ve observed surpasses what is typically seen with other similar native revegetation sites. Your commitment to allowing the seeds and shrubs to thrive has made a significant impact.
- Along the south pathway, we’ve witnessed significant reductions in erosion and enhanced vegetation growth.
- These positive changes will support the establishment of grass species.
Weed management
- Weeds that are not on the prohibited noxious list are mowed to control their spread.
- Mechanical control methods were used to treat weed infestations of Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense), Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula), and Lesser and Greater Common Burdock (Arctium minus and lappa).
- More information on the City’s Pest Management practices can be found here: Managing pests (calgary.ca).
Strategic Fencing Removal
- Our team will closely monitor native grass coverage. As areas become sufficiently established, we will strategically remove fencing.
- This approach not only facilitates better park access but also accelerates overall restoration. It minimizes the risk of needing to reinstall fencing if delayed growth or damage occurs.
Groundcover and Native Grasses
- While the fenced areas now boast excellent groundcover, there is less coverage of native grasses, which have a longer germination time.
- For effective native revegetation, we are monitoring growth for a higher coverage of native grasses.
Thank you for your continued interest. Your patience and support have been invaluable as we’ve worked to restore and improve this cherished green space.
Project Background
The Natural Area and Off-Leash Park adjacent to 19 St. N.W. in West Hillhurst provides a beautiful place for a short walk with views of the Calgary skyline. The park currently struggles with erosion, habitat degradation, and lacks formalized trails. This park also features a spot where citizens have provided their own seating. The project scope includes trail enhancements, dog park signage, seating, and revegetation.
Project Benefits
Project benefits include:
- improving trail accessibility including timber steps.
- seating area at lookout and formalizing community-initiated placemaking elements.
- establishing missing pedestrian connections.
- creating new sidewalks with a curb cut at the 9 Ave. and 10 Ave. N.W. entrances.
- addressing ongoing erosion.
- aiming to maintain and improve upon the natural feel of the site.
Project timeline
- Engagement: Complete
- Design and Construction: 2025
Kensington Plaza
We’re happy to share the Kensington Plaza improvements are now complete. These upgrades include unique sculptured benches, new healthy trees, additional bike racks, and updated surfacing. Enhanced lighting, utility upgrades, and dedicated spaces for temporary features like fire pits and movable furniture, offer flexibility for a range of activities and a welcomed upgrade for hosting community events and gatherings.
Thank you for your patience during the construction period. We hope all Calgarians, and visitors can enjoy these improvements for years to come.
Frequently asked questions
19 Street N.W.
Will parking be removed to make room for the proposed improvements.
We have made every effort to keep parking along the corridor. However, to help manage stormwater and reduce the risk of flooding, some parking spaces will be removed to make way for Low Impact Development (LID) features. These features help retain stormwater, improve water quality, and control drainage, supporting future development. Additionally, pedestrian safety measures like curb extensions may affect parking availability. Overall, about 73–76% of parking spaces will remain along the corridor.
Will I lose part of my yard?
No, private property will not be affected. However, some areas along the 19 Street N.W. corridor will be widened to accommodate new wheeling lanes and wider sidewalks. This expansion will use the road right-of-way, which is public property between the property line and the sidewalk.
The corridor will be extended by approximately 3.7 meters on the east side and 0.85 meters on the west side, up to the property lines. If you’d like to confirm your property line, please refer to your Real Property Report.
The road right-of-way is managed by The City for public use, including pedestrian and traffic access. The City is responsible for managing this property and ensuring that the intended use, present and future, is protected.
How many trees will be removed and replanted as part of this project? Why aren’t more trees included in this and other public realm improvement projects?
Removing trees is a last resort, but some trees and shrubs will need to be removed or replaced to accommodate the new streetscaping plans. We are working to preserve as many trees as possible throughout construction, following tree protection and compensation plans in collaboration with Urban Forestry and Conservation.
Approximately 25 trees will be removed along the 19 Street corridor. Many of these trees are in poor condition and will be replaced by The City either onsite or elsewhere in Calgary. Due to utility upgrades, most replacements will need to be planted in other locations.
Calgary has around 7 million trees across public and private lands, parks, natural areas, and green spaces. Given our arid climate, trees are not naturally widespread except in riparian areas along rivers, making each tree a valuable part of our urban forest.
Does the project scope include improvements to the alleyway between 19 ST and 3 Ave NW. (also known as Dairy Lane)
No. the alleyway is not included in the scope of the project.
Will this project change who is responsible for boulevard lawn mowing and sidewalk snow clearing?
No, property owners will still be responsible for mowing the boulevard and clearing snow from sidewalks next to their properties. The City will clear snow along designated wheeling lanes.
For more information on snow clearing requirements near bikeways, please visit the City’s website. Please note that snow from sidewalks cannot be shoveled onto a wheeling lane.
What is the snow clearing schedule for wheeling lanes?
Wheeling lanes and traffic lanes will be cleared within 36 hours after a snowfall.
For details on City snow clearing routes, visit:
🔗 Pathways and Bikeways Map
🔗 Snow and Ice Control (SNIC) Priority Routes
Can I ride my scooter on the new wheeling lanes?
Shared e-scooters (but not personal e-scooters) and non-powered scooters are permitted on bike lanes, as detailed in the chart below.

How long will construction last?
The construction timeline will be confirmed once a contractor is secured. The project is expected to be tendered in spring 2025, with construction starting in summer 2025 and finishing in summer 2026.
What will the traffic and bike detours look like during construction?
Work will be completed in segments, with localized detours based on a traffic accommodation plan submitted by the contractor. Once the plan is approved, The City will share details on our website and through our e-newsletter.
To stay updated, sign up for our newsletter at calgary.ca/rileyconstruction.
What will construction look like in front of properties?
Construction details will be determined by the contractor, but you can expect:
- Construction fencing and concrete barriers
- Signage, pylons, and temporary access ramps
- Short-term detours and impacts to on-street parking
- Maintained pedestrian access
- Possible delays due to weather or utility work
- Efforts to minimize disruptions wherever possible
How and when will this connect to future improvements on 5th/6th Avenue and Kensington Road?
The Riley Local Area Plan (LAP) is currently awaiting Council approval. Once approved, projects will be considered for funding through the Local Area Investment Fund. Both 5th and 6th Avenue N.W., as well as Kensington Road, have been identified as high-priority projects to be considered for future improvements.
Why is 19 St NW the preferred corridor for mobility improvements in the Riley area? Were 21 St or 18 St considered?
19 St NW was chosen because it aligns with the Council-approved Pathway and Bikeway (5A) Network and offers opportunities to enhance connectivity, safety, and accessibility for local businesses, amenities, and future growth. Public realm improvements will include new wheelchair ramps, wider sidewalks, and curb extensions for safer crossings. Dedicated wheeling lanes will also separate users by speed, improving overall mobility and safety.
While 21 St and 18 St were considered, they did not provide the same benefits for public development and growth as 19 St N.W.
I don’t remember being involved in the planning. How was our neighbourhood engaged in this project?
Over the past several years, there have been multiple opportunities for community engagement on projects in the Riley area.
Formal engagement began in 2021 with the Kensington TOD Streetscape and Public Realm Improvements. Phase 1 gathered public input on key areas in Hillhurst Sunnyside, West Hillhurst, and Hounsfield Heights Briar Hill that needed public realm investment.
In Phase 2, the project team identified 16 potential improvement areas, including 2nd and 7th Avenue NW. The public was invited to help prioritize these projects, recognizing that not all could be funded. The main objectives were to:
- Determine which projects were most important to the community.
- Gather feedback on proposed improvement concepts.
Three types of projects were considered:
- Streetscape improvements
- Traffic calming enhancements
- Public space upgrades
Public feedback, along with technical analysis and cost considerations, helped narrow the list to seven priority projects in Phase 3. These projects were then shared with the community for further engagement on design and implementation details.
For more details, you can view past engagement reports here:
🔗 Kensington Area Improvements
🔗 Phase 2 Engagement Report
🔗 Phase 3 Engagement Report
Parks and open spaces improvements
Will there still be fencing in the park after mid-November once there is no more construction?
We understand that this is a very popular space and wanted to re-open the greater park area as quickly as possible. To complete native revegetation, we are balancing park access with the ecological requirements of re-establishing this vegetation. After construction, fencing will be strategically placed to help protect key areas and encourage the new native vegetation to establish. There will be regular openings along the fence to maintain connections to all trails and ensure dogs can access the centre of the park. This fencing will remain in place until the native seed is established. We appreciate your cooperation in protecting these areas. These enhancements will improve the quality of the park ecosystem and biodiversity in the long term.
Can we toboggan on this hill?
This hill is not considered an official tobogganing site in the city. For safety reasons, the Parks and Pathways Bylaw prohibits tobogganing or sledding downhill in any City-maintained park except the ones listed on tobogganing and sledding.
Tobogganing is an activity that you do at your own risk. The City is not responsible for any personal injury or damage to personal items.
There seem to be more coyotes in the area, what can we do?
We are aware of coyote sightings in the area and have asked our contractor and crews on-site to continue to report any wildlife sightings. We encourage you to report sightings by contacting 311 as this is the best way to ensure we are aware of where our wildlife population are, if there are sudden increases. More information specific to urban coyotes can be found on our website: Coyotes (calgary.ca)
What are the accessibility improvements for people with different levels of mobility?
The two trails that run east and west across the top and bottom of the slope will be improved with gravel surfacing. The trail along the top of the slope will be realigned to reduce steep grades. Low-impact, shallow steps are being built at the northeast access from 19 Street and will be placed at suitable locations, with the least overall disturbance, between the top and bottom trails on the east side of the park.
What is planned for the memorial plaque dedicated to Edd Rooney?
Edd Rooney’s memorial plaque will be reinstalled in approximately the same location. Prior to starting any work on-site, Edd Rooney’s family was contacted through the Parks Foundation about the proposed changes.
How is the natural ecosystem at Grasshopper Hill being protected?
Grasshopper Hill is a Natural Environment Park and we have worked with City Parks Ecologists throughout the design process, including to develop the Habitat Restoration Plan. A Preliminary Natural Site Assessment, Biophysical Impact Assessment, and Tree Protection Plan were also completed as part of this project.
During engagement, citizens expressed wanting to minimize impact to the natural landscape while supporting improvements to accessibility and gathering spaces. This feedback was incorporated into the design in several ways, including the use of natural materials such as aggregate (pathways), stone and wood, low-profile steps, and preservation of several well-travelled dirt trails. The proposed interventions follow existing degraded areas to the extent possible while improving the accessibility of the north trail and are proactively designed to mitigate disruption from erosion. These include delineating trail alignment to protect sensitive root zones that are prone to compaction (especially the large willow tree), adding natural erosion blankets, and completing revegetation work in key areas. While there will be disruption during construction, these interventions are aimed to support the ecological health of the site long-term.
Was there an opportunity for community Engagement?
We received public feedback over three phases of engagement. From April to May of 2021, citizen input was sought to let help identify potential improvement spaces in the Kensington/Riley area. Grasshopper Hill Off-leash Park was identified as one of these spaces. Later in November to December of 2021, citizens were asked for input on different design options illustrating potential park improvements with the goals of improving park accessibility and community gathering amenities. This feedback was used along with technical analysis and cost considerations to select the projects that would be carried forward for implementation.
In April to May of 2022, during the third and final phase of engagement, we revealed the prioritized projects and the accompanying design illustrations. We asked for public feedback to help inform project design and identify any gaps. Visit Kensington Area Improvements to view engagement results.
In addition to online engagement, the project team participated in a neighbourhood walk in November 2021 and attended the Local Area Plan Open House in January 2023 to share project plans and gather in-person feedback.
How can I get future updates about this project?
To receive updates on the Riley Area Improvements projects, including Grasshopper Hill Off-leash Park Enhancements, sign up for email updates.
Project timeline
- Engagement: Complete
- Design and Construction: Complete