Calgary’s wading pools, splash pads, rec centres and other free community facilities should get an upgrade using millions in Enmax dividends, according to Mayor Jyoti Gondek. Read More
Typically, any excess from the Enmax dividend would automatically be allocated to the city’s legacy parks fund
Typically, any excess from the Enmax dividend would automatically be allocated to the city’s legacy parks fund
Article content
Calgary’s wading pools, splash pads, rec centres and other free community facilities should get an upgrade using milllions in Enmax dividends said Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek.
Article content
Article content
At a news conference Thursday, Mayor Jyoti Gondek outlined a notice of motion she will bring forward to next week’s executive committee meeting. The motion calls on the city to direct $20 million in one-time funding from the 2024 Enmax dividend toward the Facilities Management Annual Investment Program.
Article content
Story continues below
Article content
That program is “sorely underfunded,” Gondek said, which has resulted in 15 per cent of city-managed assets being in poor or critical condition. The program has been unable to keep pace with upkeep for aging community-based facilities, such as wading pools, splash pads and recreation centres.
Article content
Noon News Roundup
Article content
Gondek cited the splash pad in Prairie Winds Park in the community of Castleridge as an example.
Article content
Article content
“It’s much more than just a place to cool off on a hot day,” she said. “It’s a gathering place for families across generations, and while that critical piece of community infrastructure deserves regular upgrades and maintenance, we are faced with a shortage of funds, and we can only attend to those amenities when they start to fall into disrepair.”
Article content
Almost $3 million for more community gathering places in proposal
Article content
Her motion also proposes allocating $2.85 million from the Enmax dividend to enhance placemaking projects spearheaded by the Federation of Calgary Communities, the organization that represents the city’s community associations.
Article content
Story continues below
Article content
The funding, which would be made available to community associations over three years, could support various projects, Gondek argued, such as seating and lighting enhancements, shade structures, or murals and community gardens.
Article content
“Community association volunteers have a really strong sense of what people are needing in the community and what people are enjoying,” Gondek said. “There have been many times that a group of volunteers has gathered to say, ‘We need to do an outdoor rink, and we can put it here, and it will be enjoyed by so many people in the community.’
Article content
“Then they have to figure out the number of grants that they have to apply for and, generally, those grants come with a stipulation that they have to have matching funds. And that’s really hard to do for a volunteer organization.”
Article content
Enmax delivered a $103 million dividend to the city in 2024, marking the first time the city-owned utility provider has returned a nine-figure sum.
Article content
Article content
The dividend was $46 million more than the $57 million the city budgeted to receive. Typically, any excess would automatically be allocated to the legacy parks fund, according to Gondek, whose motion proposes allocating $23.15 million of the surplus to that fund.