Haskayne Legacy Park, Calgary’s first regional park in more than 10 years, celebrated its official opening.

The new space features Calgary’s first net-zero 2,400 square-foot pavilion building – a ground-breaking achievement in sustainable development and the first in the city’s building portfolio. The park’s pavilion building draws power from a solar array which is designed to provide 33.6 kW of electricity.

Other features include a sheltered outdoor space equipped with large harvest tables, a gas fireplace, and seating nooks for family and friends to gather. Granular nature trails in the north area of the park offer visitors a walking loop and the chance to meander through scenic expanses of grasslands with spectacular views of the Bow River and foothills.

Nestled along the banks of the Bearspaw Reservoir, the park protects 126-hectares of a serene prairie environment.

“Haskayne Legacy Park is not just a park; it’s a testament to our commitment to preserving and connecting Calgarians with the valuable ecological and cultural heritage in the area,” said Kyle Ripley, director of parks and open spaces. “We are so happy to add another great regional park to our vast open space system and are confident that Calgarians will really enjoy this place.”

The development of the regional park is the result of the collaboration and partnership between Dick and Lois Haskayne, the City of Calgary, and Rocky View County. The northwest boundary of the park borders Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park which includes approximately 1,300 hectares of grasslands. Together, Haskayne Legacy Park and Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park will create a continuous greenway along the Bow River valley.

The park came to be when Dick and Lois Haskayne donated a portion of the land to the University of Calgary, which was then acquired by the City of Calgary in 2006 through the ENMAX Legacy Parks Program. Development of the park cost approximately $16 million, not including land acquisition and public access road improvements.