Arbour Lake Playground

What an unforgettable celebration! Hundreds of neighbours, families, and supporters came together for the grand opening of the new Arbour Lake playground. With the traditional sound of the St. Andrews Caledonian Society Pipers (Robert, Andrew, and Henry) filling the air, delicious cake, warm cups of hot cocoa, and representatives from all levels of leadership joining us, it was a day to remember.

It might look like just a playground, but to our community, this project has become so much more. It stands as a powerful reminder of what happens when a community refuses to take "no" for an answer and fights relentlessly to ensure our families get the infrastructure they truly need and deserve.

Arbour Lake has been pushing for this space for so long. Because of that persistence, we now have a beautiful, state-of-the-art, multigenerational facility for everyone to enjoy, complete with a bandstand for community events, zones for all ages, a Trekfit area for youth and adults, and safe rubber surfacing by GPI Masters of Play.

A Massive Team Effort & Heartfelt Thank Yous

A project of this scale doesn't happen without an incredible network of dedicated people:

• The ALRA Board & Partners: Thank you to the ALRA Board for their vision, and a special shout-out to Craig Somers and Elaine Roy, who dreamed of this project for years and have been tremendous partners.
• Arbour Lake Residents: Thank you to our residents for your endless enthusiasm, interest, support, and for turning out in the hundreds to celebrate
• City of Calgary Partners: Thank you to Graham, Nico, Daniel, and Jessy for helping us navigate challenges, tackle roadblocks, and prove that we could succeed together.
• Play Envy & Mike McDermott: Thank you to Mike and Michelle for the brilliant design work, and to the build crew (Greg, Brad, Carter, and Saxon) for bringing it to life.
• GPI Masters of Play: To Curtis and Ilka Calafatis (long-time Arbour Lake residents and owners of GPI) along with Eric, Sam, and their crew—thank you for delivering a safe, beautiful rubber surface right down to the wire against tough weather.
• Westchester Concrete: Adam and Carolynn Quigley, along with Tilley, Moe, and their crews, deserve immense recognition for the stellar foundations, curbing, and pads.
• Childsplace Learning Daycare: Crystal Thring was a powerful voice for the children in critical meetings with the City, advocating for the project from Day One.
• ALRA Staff: Thank you to Terrance Chan and the Arbour Lake staff for getting the site prepped and making our celebration feel truly special.
• Communications & Music: A special recognition goes to Daniela Somers for driving our communications, designing social media posts, and keeping the website updated with thousands of views. And a huge thank you to the St. Andrews Caledonian Society Pipers for setting the tone of the event.

And a special thank-you to Drew McNichol, our ALRA Playground Chair, who also porvided my office with this list of thankyou's. Drew has spearheaded this project, and we wouldn't have this playground today if it wasn't for his persistent efforts. 

After more than a decade of community effort, Arbour Lake is finally set to score a major win for families: a brand-new playground at the Arbour Lake Resident's Association (ALRA) building. Construction kicks off this month, with a grand opening targeted for October.

The long drive down the field

For roughly 13 years, the playground right outside the ALRA building, home to Childsplace Learning Daycare, has been out of bounds for the centre’s kids. The City considered the equipment to meet municipal standards, but provincial licensing rules did not, so the daycare couldn’t use the space.

Early last year, the City fenced the site and posted signs saying the equipment had reached the end of its lifecycle and would be removed later in the year. That was the turning point: the community huddled up and started planning the next drive.

A team effort to cross the goal line

Over nearly a year of volunteer-led negotiations, the ALRA worked through funding, design, and approvals. clearing hurdles one by one. Special thanks to Drew McNichol (ALRA Playground Chair), Elaine Roy, Craig Somers, and the entire ALRA board for their persistence and leadership in moving this project across the goal line. 

The result is a modern, inclusive playspace that better serves daycare children, local families, and the wider neighbourhood.

Game timeline

• Kickoff (construction start): September 2026
• Target grand opening: October 2026

When the ribbon is cut this fall, it will mark the end of a long drive and the start of many seasons of safe, accessible play right outside the daycare and community hall.