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Completed Projects
Our Proud History
Over the course of our 40+ year history, Parks Foundation has had the opportunity to complete hundreds of projects across the city. More than $250 million has been invested in parks, playgrounds and sport spaces over the course of our storied history.
Parks Foundation has pursued innovative and award-winning designs that have transformed our city for the better. Whether it’s Canada’s first dementia-inclusive park or a first-of-its-kind urban playground, our focus remains on building vibrant communities and a thriving city.
We believe that accessible outdoor spaces are the heart of a healthy city. By partnering with passionate residents, generous donors, and local organizations, we turn dreams into lasting realities. Explore our portfolio of completed projects below to see how we are building a more active, connected, and vibrant Calgary for generations to come.
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Major Projects of the Last Decade
Over the last decade, Parks Foundation has helped redefine what’s possible in Calgary’s public spaces. We’ve delivered North America’s largest urban pathway, created Calgary’s first interactive outdoor music garden, and built award winning, parks and inclusive playgrounds that ensure that all Calgarians have a place to play and belong.
None of this happens without you. Each completed project reflects the generosity of individual donors, the vision of community champions, and the power of collaborative partnerships with organizations who share our belief that intentionally designed public spaces change lives.
Browse our completed projects below and see what Calgarians can accomplish when they invest in themselves.
Martin Family Pump Track & Skatepark (2025)
Calgary’s first-ever combined concrete pump track and skatepark designed for wheelers of all ages and skill levels housed in George Moss Park, Ogden.
Brawn Family Foundation Rotary Park (2023)
An outdoor space created with care and intention to ensure that all the elements were designed to help nurture the mental health recovery of Calgary’s youth.
West Confederation Park Pump Track (2022)
Calgary’s first asphalt pump track north of the Bow River designed for all-abilities cycling destination for NW communities.
Flyover Park (2021)
The first of its kind in Western Canada and a recipient of Park Excellence Award, Flyover Park transformed an underused area beneath the 4th Avenue flyover into an award-winning urban park.
Ramsay Inclusive Playground (2021)
A fully accessible playground that exceeds minimum accessibility standard, designed with universal design principles to accommodate children and families with diverse abilities and needs.
Quinterra Legacy Garden (2020)
Calgary’s first interactive outdoor music garden and performance space created in memory of Lawrence, Joshua, Kaiti, Zackariah, and Jordan, five young adults whose lives were tragically lost in 2014.
Rotary/Mattamy Greenway (2017)
On of North America’s largest urban pathway system, the Greenway encircles Calgary and connects 55 communities, parks, and recreation spaces.
VIVO Inclusive Playground (2020)
A fully accessible, inclusive playground designed for children of all abilities and backgrounds. The playground features specialized equipment and a social gathering space for all ages.
Highlights of Parks Foundation’s History
Since our establishment in 1985, Parks Foundation Calgary has completed numerous projects across the city. Below is a timeline of some of the parks and community spaces we’ve helped developed over the years.
Park Foundation’s first major project was spearheaded by our founder Terry Hawitt who helped raise funds for this urban park in Chinatown. As high-rises and parking lots were rapidly replacing natural spaces, Terry recognized the need for preserving green spaces. This established Park’s Foundations mission and laid the groundwork for future projects.
A vital part of Calgary’s northeast, Prairie Winds park encompasses 16 hectares of land and is home to amenities like a wading pool and spray park, tennis courts, a cricket pitch, skating rink, and multiple play spaces. The park also features its iconic hill, providing clear views of the city and airport, and perfect for some winter time tobaggoning.
One of Calgary’s most iconic green spaces, Nose Hill Park encompasses over 1000 hectares of natural area. The land was preserved as a park space after more than 20 years of active campaigning by citizens to protect the area. The park was completed in a joint effort by the Nose Hill Park Board and Parks Foundation.
Located in J.H. Woods Park, Gerry Shaw Garden is a tribute to Calgarian and hometown hero Gerry Shaw. Shaw grew up in Calgary and played professional football, competing with the Calgary Stampeders for 10 years. After his passing, friends and family coordinated to build a garden in his name.
Located in front of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Calgary’s historic Mission district, this park is named after two prominent members of the mission community, Charles and Edward Rouleau. With plenty of seating, beautiful landscaping, and integrated interpretive signage, this square offers Calgarians a place to relax and a look into the history of our city.
Located along the elbow river at 60th Avenue SW, these wetlands help educate students and others about the importance of wetlands, and the science behind storm water treatment. These wetlands are ofted used for field trips by schools around the city, and by the City of Calgary’s educational programs.
Named in honour of Jim Fish, whose vision and dedication helped pave Calgary’s network of bicycle and walking paths, this ridge celebrates a man who believed in making our city more connected and active. Featuring interpretive signage and dedication benches, this ridge on the souther edge of Rotary Park offers beautiful views of the downtown skyline.
Encompassing 93 hectares, Griffith Woods lies along the banks of the Elbow river in southwest Calgary. The park features numerous trails, both paved and unpaved, and provides food and habitat for animals of all kind. The park is named after Wilbur Griffith who, with his wife Betty, donated the land to the City of Calgary to be set aside as a nature preserve.
Rotary Challenger Park is a barrier-free meeting and recreational facility that is open to all people, regardless of their age or ability. Serving as a model for inclusivity, persons with disabilities can play and enjoy alongside their able-bodied peers! The park encomapesses 23 acres of land, hosting baseball diamonds, a 400-metre running track, basketball and tennis courts, a playground, and multiple picnic areas. This park continues to embody Parks Foundation’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.
Haultain School was built in 1894 and was Calgary’s first school with electricity and running water. In 1907 it expanded into two schools, the larger of which was closed in 1962. The original smaller school remains and is now the home of Parks Foundation Calgary.
Named after former mayor of Calgary and premier of Alberta, Ralph Klein, this 30 hectare wetland park featuers learning gardens, interpretive trails, wetland viewing areas, and study stations. It also features the Environmental Education Centre, which provides students with an indoor classroom, library, art studio, and meeting space. The centre can also be booked for weddings or other private events.
Named in honour of Calgary philanthropist Don Harvie and located in the Bow River in southeast Calgary, this built water feature has become a popular recreation area for canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, rafting, surfing, and floating. This multi-million dollar project has seen the hazardous weir structure in Inglewood reconstructed with a series of pools and rapids that are safer for people using the river, while improving the natural movement of fish along the river.
Connected to Fish Creek Park, this 40 acre park features gazebos, a natural bridge between two engineered wetlands, and benches so visitors can easily relax and observe nature. The wetlands help to manage runoff from the river and provide habitats for birds and other wildlife.
This 18-hole disc golf course is located on a 27 acre site in Calgary’s northwest and built in memory of Calgary businessman and avid disc golfer, David Richardson. David began playing the game in 2013 and quickly fell in love with it, playing two to four times a week in the sun, rain or snow. After his passing, his friends and family came together to honour David’s memory by through the park, sharing his favourite game with all Calgarians and anyone else who may visit the park. The park hosts the longest disc golf course in the city and features a diverse layout, with a challenging par-5 hole stretching out 800 feet, and a shorter, more enjoyable 3-par’s with “hole in one” potential. The park also features various hazards spread throughout the site including vegetation and water features, presenting exciting risk/reward playing opportunities for players.
Born and raised in Calgary, Bhullar became the first turbaned Sikh Cabinent Minister and the youngest member to be elected to Alberta’s 27th legislature. He was also the youngest politician to serve as parliamentary assistant or secretary in Canada at that time. Manmeet was a passionate advocate not only for his constituency, but for all the people that call Calgary and Alberta their home. After his passing in 2015, Manmeet’s family in collaboration with the Calgary Foundation and Parks Foundation Calgary chose to honour his legacy by building the Manmeet Singh Bhullar park in northeast Calgary, close to where he lived. Designed by Ground3 Landscape Architects, Manmeet Singh Bhullar Park encompasses 5 hectares and features design elements that reflect Manmeet’s values of community and belonging.
Give To Our Parks
Parks Foundation is a civic partner and qualified donee, which makes your donation eligible for charitable tax credits. For more information, please see our Receiving Donations and Issuing Tax Receipts Policy found here.
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Get In Touch
Parks Foundation is a civic partner and a qualified donee.
225 – 13 Avenue SW Calgary, AB T2R 1N8
info@parksfdn.com