Sikome Lake reopens for summer with $6 million in upgrades after first major renovation in 48 years

A popular Calgary swimming destination is open for the summer, and it's back with noticeable upgrades.

The Sikome Aquatic Facility, located in Fish Creek Provincial Park and commonly referred to as Sikome Lake, reopened for the season on June 29, 2026, following a $6 million, multi-year upgrade project that saw aging buildings, safety infrastructure, and water systems modernized across the site.

First opened in 1978, the swimming spot had not seen a major renovation since its opening, but has remained a key summer destination for outdoor swimming in Calgary. Alberta Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen said much of the work focused on fixing decades-old infrastructure. "A lot of the buildings here were upgraded. Some of them were 50 years old and needed that kind of upgrade to retrofit to today's standards," he said.

Five buildings on the site were refurbished, including the safety centre with a life jacket loaner station, the staff administration booth with a change house, the concession and beach shop, another change house, and the beach house, which will be a rentable space in the future. The upgrades also include two new buildings on the site — a north and south admissions booth that will make entry to the facility much easier.

Katrina Terrill, the executive director of Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society, said the upgrades come as the provincial park continues to see strong seasonal demand. "There are over 100,000 people who visit here every year, and this has not been upgraded for quite some time. We're really excited to have this tremendous opportunity for folks who are visiting the park."

Sikome Aquatic Facility's operating season is set to run until August 30, with adult admission costing $8 and child admission costing $5.