Calgary Rotary Challenger Park
Calgary Rotary Challenger Park is a barrier free recreation, sport and wellness facility that was built to be a model of inclusiveness for the community. It was felt that people with disabilities required a level playing field that incorporates breaking down barriers in all areas. The Park is a facility designed to ensure that ALL individuals, including those with disabilities, will have access to ALL of the amenities and services that are afforded to others in the community.
The idea was conceived in 1997 and development began in 1999 under the leadership of the Rotary Clubs of Calgary and Airdrie. Rotary Challenger Park Development Society was incorporated in 1999 with three founding partners: Rotary Clubs of Calgary and Airdrie, Calgary Airport Authority, and the Parks Foundation Calgary. Under the leadership of Rotary, the Society assessed the need, raised the funds and built the facilities.
Many agencies assisting people with disabilities (e.g., Canadian Paraplegic Association, Challenger Little League, and Special Olympics Calgary) were involved in the design and development of the project to insure the Park would meet the environmental and physical needs of those who would ultimately utilize it.
The Park is utilized by more than fifty (50) community based organizations annually, which translates into 70,000 – 80,000 visits per year to the Park. For the most part, the facilities are fully booked at the prime time hours.
To see all our facility has to offer go to www.challengerpark.com.
The Centre For All Abilities will be Phase 4 of Challenger Park’s development, is the future of nonprofit organizational leadership. Imagine agencies, schools, seniors, associations and service clubs co-existing in the same modern space that will define the epitome of learning, working and playing together! It will be located immediately adjacent to the current Park. The new Centre, will be situated on 5.34 acres of land provided by Calgary Airport Authority, one of the Park’s Founding Partners.
This development will include 100,000 ft2 (within 3-stories) of community service and programming space for a diverse group of not-for-profit/charity-based organizations that serve the needs of Calgarians every day. Plans envision a large multi-purpose gymnasium space that would support the tenant organizations during the daytime and be offered to the public during evenings and weekends to maximize the utilization of this new space.
When this new community collaboration unforlds a paradigm shift is created that helps the tenant organizations build their long-term sustainability. This innovative partnership initiative will have a long-lasting impact on some of Calgary’s very worthy organizations within the City, that are serving youth, seniors and our more vulnerable populations.
The project timeline has the Centre construction beginning in the summer of 2016 and opening in the fall of 2018.
For more information on this exciting project contact:
For Centre Capital Funding Opportunities contact Phil Levson; 403-510-0406 or phil.levson@shaw.ca
For Potential Tenancy Opportunities contact Jim Zackowski; 403-250-2707 or jzackowski@challengerpark.com
