Calgary committee endorses pricey proposal to ramp up recreation spending

If passed, a strategy to boost spending on Calgary's recreation facilities could inject hundreds of millions of dollars into pools, arenas and fields.

A lofty strategy to increase spending by millions of dollars to upgrade aging recreation facilities and build new ones was unanimously supported by a Calgary council committee Thursday afternoon.

Titled GamePLAN: Reimagining Public Recreation, the proposal sets out a strategic approach for facility planning in Calgary—including everything from public pools and arenas to fields and athletic parks.

In order to keep up with Calgary’s soaring population growth and fix up long-ignored recreation upgrades, Calgary would have to spend upward of $250 million per year to increase capacity, officials said.

“Where we put our money is where our priorities are, and so that’s essentially what’s before us with GamePLAN,” said Coun. Kourtney Penner.

“Do we want to tell the world that we are stepping up to fund sport and recreation? Do we want to be a place that can attract tourism?”

Although a committee endorsed the plan Thursday, it still needs to be passed by council as a whole.

When passed, administration would create a prioritization list and come up with budget recommendations for 2026 and beyond.

It will be up to the next council to fully approve GamePLAN and its spending after October’s municipal election.

City Hall was packed with sports groups and individuals Thursday morning, with almost all speaking in favour of the increased spending for recreation.

“The message we really want to send is just that the GamePLAN initiative really supports not only physical community development but also the development of relationships. It’s not only to develop our softball skills, but also skills that will carry on throughout our entire lives,” said Vesper Lee, a member of the South Bow River Rockies softball association.

According to the city, more than 70 per cent of the public recreation facilities in Calgary were built more than three decades ago and have either met or are nearing the end of their lifecycle.

The city’s report references the closure of several facilities, including the Eau Claire YMCA and the Beltline Aquatic Centre in 2021 and the planned closure of Vecova in 2025.