RRROCA announces plans for a new community all season Community Park
The idea for a Royal Oak/Rocky Ridge park began in 2008 with a community wide questionnaire when land was identified and secured for use by the Community Association. Follow up surveys provided additional feedback on preferred amenities and facilities and showed that the most highly rated facility was an outdoor rink. RRROCA’s mandate is to provide for the needs of residents, provide information and decision making, liaise with the City, and promote health and safety. There are currently no outdoor rinks in the communication association area for our 20,000 residents, as well as no park focusing on family and sports activities. The goal for the Community Park is to fulfill these needs for our residents.
RRROCA has developed a new concept plan for an exciting community park to be located on reserve land east of the baseball diamond and the new middle school off Royal Oak Way. The Community Association has a 15 year lease agreement with the City of Calgary for a community park. The land is currently unoccupied but is part of a larger parcel of municipal land that includes a new middle school and baseball diamond. Residents may recall initial plans proposed by RRROCA in 2013 for a hockey rink in this area. While the community all season park still features a 65×150 foot lit hockey rink with boards and protective fencing, the park is now envisioned to include amenities that will entertain residents of all ages throughout the year.
Thanks to many committed volunteers working a number of casinos, RRROCA has sufficient funds to cover this first phase of the project, which will include the hockey rink, servicing and parking lot. RRROCA is now in the process of applying for additional grants to pay for future phases. The area will be landscaped and a berm will be carefully constructed to screen the rink from adjacent homes. In addition to potential grant money, RRROCA will continue to work casinos to fund these future phases. Residents looking for ways to support this initiative can contact volunteer@rrroca.org for upcoming opportunities.
The completion date is dependent on weather, but we are hoping for winter 2016. If you want to get involved and help, we are in need of volunteers for November and December, please contact volunteers@rrroca.org as well as encourage you to buy a membership. Check back frequently for updates.
If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, please contact sponsorship@rrroca.org
To learn more, please CLICK HERE to download the supporting PowerPoint presentation.
Updates:
– The plan for the community park has now been expanded to include other year-round family uses and multi-generational facilities.
– The new plan also includes a “hub” for a range of community events.
– The plan concept has been redesigned to move hockey rink and parking as far from adjacent homes as possible and parking lot is now gated
– Based on feedback, the efficient lighting system will shut off at 10pm out of respect of our neighbours
– Major components of the planned park include an outdoor hockey rink, pleasure skating rink, and fitness stations.
Other components include city servicing, a parking lot, a storage building for equipment, lighting, and amenities for users included benches and rubber surfacing.
– Phase 1 of the project includes servicing, the rink, and the storage shed
– Phase 2 upgrades will be completed through 2017/2018