Rocky Ridge Athletic Park opens two new soccer fields in northwest Calgary

Rocky Ridge Athletic Park opened this week with two multi-use artificial turf fields, washrooms, spectator seating, and lighting that extends playable hours into evening. The $26 million facility sits next to Shane Homes YMCA at 9700 Country Hills Boulevard N.W., bringing Calgary's total to 31 soccer fields across 15 athletic parks.

The city built the park to respond to surging demand for bookable field space and to give staff greater flexibility managing field use while natural grass fields recover. Council approved the project in 2021 as part of its Capital Investment Strategy, with construction beginning in 2024.

More than 30,000 youths play soccer in Calgary, competing across 1,100 Calgary Minor Soccer Association teams — a number that grew by 70 teams from the previous year. "Quality fields are essential to giving youth the opportunity to develop their skills, build confidence and experience the benefits of team sport," said Bernie Morton, president of the Calgary Minor Soccer Association. "The demand for soccer is growing, faster than the infrastructure is able to support it. And this is a great step in the right direction."

Mayor Jeromy Farkas noted the park addresses immediate need while the city plans for larger growth. "Families need to have places to live their lives, kids need places to play," Farkas said. "More families mean more kids signing up for soccer and other sports and Rocky Ridge Athletic Park is part of the answer."

A larger Rocky Ridge Athletic Complex remains in planning stages. Design work is underway on a fieldhouse estimated to cost $75 million, though construction depends on future funding approval through the 2027-30 budget process. The fieldhouse is flagged as a Wave 1 priority under GamePLAN, the city's 25-year recreation strategy adopted in 2025.