Parks Foundation Calgary is redefining how public spaces serve communities – leading the development of innovative, inclusive parks that reflect the city’s evolving needs and aspirations. More than places to gather, these spaces are becoming essential infrastructure for wellbeing, connection, and belonging. The drive for this work: parks should be designed for – and with – communities.
A leading example of this vision is the Martin Family Legacy Garden – Canada’s first dementia-inclusive park – a pioneering project that reimagines what accessibility and inclusivity can look like in outdoor environments. Developed through collaboration with healthcare professionals, researchers, caregivers, and people with lived experience, the park represents a shift from accommodating limitations to designing for accessibility, independence, and meaningful engagement.
Every element of the park is intentionally designed to reduce barriers and enhance confidence. Colour-coded pathways with continuous handrails and recognizable landmarks help intuitive navigation and reduce confusion. Sensory-rich features including colour contrast and a variety of plant materials, are intentionally integrated to help stimulate cognitive function. Safety is embedded into the design using landscape materials as natural containment ensuring users can explore freely while feeling secure.
Martin Family Legacy Garden is designed to address cognitive differences commonly experienced by those with dementia, welcoming individuals and families often underserved in public space design. With a playground and shared gathering areas, it encourages intergenerational connection – inviting families, caregivers, and community members to engage together in a welcoming space. It is a public place for all where individuals living with dementia are not set apart but included. The result is a therapeutic sanctuary rooted in empathy and innovation, made possible through the shared vision of donors, advocates, and subject-matter experts.
This project is part of a broader, partnership-driven approach that defines Parks Foundation Calgary’s work. By bringing together philanthropic leaders, corporate partners, community organizations, and all orders of government, the Foundation is able to transform ambitious ideas into tangible, lasting community assets.
The Rotary/Mattamy Greenway is a powerful example of what this collaboration can achieve. As one of the world’s longest urban pathway networks, it connects communities across Calgary, making active transportation and outdoor recreation more accessible to hundreds of thousands of residents. As it approaches its 10th anniversary in 2027, the Greenway continues to demonstrate how long-term investment and visionary partnerships can reshape how a city moves and connects.
Opening officially on August 22, the Martin Family Pump Track & Skatepark reflects a new generation of park design – one that prioritizes youth engagement, skill-building, and inclusive recreation. As Calgary’s first combined pump track and skatepark, it offers opportunities for riders of all ages and abilities to progress and play, while building community through shared experience. This project, like many others, was made possible through the generosity and leadership of philanthropic partners who recognize the value of creating spaces for youth to thrive.
In the downtown core, Flyover Park has transformed previously underutilized land into a vibrant, year-round destination. Through innovative design and strong cross-sector collaboration, the space now features public art, sport courts, and programming that invites diverse communities to gather and connect in the heart of the city.
Similarly, Brawn Family Foundation Rotary Park demonstrates how targeted investment can support specific community needs. Designed with a focus on youth and teen mental health recovery, the park provides a safe, welcoming environment that blends nature, recreation, and reflection – offering young people a place to reflect, recharge, and reconnect.
Through innovation, collaboration, and the generosity of its partners, Parks Foundation Calgary is building more than parks. It is building a city where everyone belongs.
These projects signal a shift in how parks are imagined and delivered. They are no longer seen as passive green spaces, but as active contributors to public health, social cohesion, and community resilience. They reflect a growing understanding that inclusive design is not a feature – it is a foundation.
