The City of Calgary has launched an online consultation process to help shape the future of Cowboys Park. Read More
The City of Calgary has launched an online consultation process to help shape the future of Cowboys Park. The city encouraged Calgarians to share their thoughts on how to improve amenities, accessibility and recreational experiences in the park, formerly Shaw Millennial Park. The upgrades are part of a 10-year naming and sponsorship agreement between the
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The City of Calgary has launched an online consultation process to help shape the future of Cowboys Park.
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The city encouraged Calgarians to share their thoughts on how to improve amenities, accessibility and recreational experiences in the park, formerly Shaw Millennial Park.
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The upgrades are part of a 10-year naming and sponsorship agreement between the City of Calgary and Penny Lane Entertainment, the parent company of Cowboys Dance Hall and Cowboys Music Festival.
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Cowboys plans to hold its annual festival at the park for the foreseeable future, after its previous space became unavailable due to the construction of Scotia Place.
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Construction in the park began in early March, with crews installing safety fencing and signage. The first phase of the project is site development, and will be done by mid-June, in time for the Cowboys Music Festival and Calgary Stampede.
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Improvements will include an underground wastewater system and new pavement for the basketball court. The skatepark does not fall under the scope of the upgrades, according to Ward 7 Coun. Terry Wong.
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To facilitate the Cowboys tent, a large portion of green space in the park will be replaced by a flat asphalt surface. A number of trees will be removed and replanted, and artificial grass will be installed in some places.
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“Some people would like to have grass altogether,” said Wong.
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“But to put a festival tent up there you have to be able to put a hard surface, so as to have the proper festival and seating and everything else.”
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Public consultation will continue for “a few weeks” before starting on design work.
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Last November, budget deliberations revealed that Penny Lane Entertainment would be contributing $6 million in upgrades over the next few years. According to Wong, that money will pay for the asphalt surface and some other improvements.
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During the second phase of construction, city taxes will pay for additional development. The City of Calgary’s Downtown West Revitalization Strategy, introduced in 2022, stated that the neighbourhood lacks amenities and a “draw” to the area. Upgrades to Cowboys Park could work to solve that problem.
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“Cowboys did a good job with consulting with us very early. They’ve kept us up to speed on what they’re intending to do, so that they can try to address any of our concerns,” said David Girard, president of the Downtown West Community Association.
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Concerns include increased traffic and sound management. For the latter, Girard said Cowboys has ensured that they can mitigate the noise by measuring sound pressure and using directional speakers.