Plan in the works to build Calgary’s first ever field houses

CALGARY – As council struggles to find balance in the municipal budget, a multi-million dollar proposal is in the works to give Calgary its first ever indoor field houses.

Hepathlete Natasha Millar recently won bronze at the National Championships but she’s nervous about the hurdles of training in Calgary after four years in California.

“Come out here and it’s hailing or windy, just crazy rain, it’s freezing. Can’t get a quality work out in.”

Calgary-born Rachel Machin chuckles at what lies ahead for her teammate.

“It’s huge; winters here are quite cold, very drastic. Right now we train at the Jack Simpson. It’s very crowded, we get three lanes to use.”

The new plan would solve those problems by giving elite athletes the chance to train year round and provide much needed swimming pools, ice surfaces and recreational space.

National Track & Field coach Les Gramantik says it’s time Calgary catches up with the rest of Canada.

“Calgary is the only major city in Canada that doesn’t have a multi-sport field house. Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Vancouver all have opportunities to train indoors.”

The plan involves a major renovation of both Foothills Park, complete with an indoor 400 metre track and field facility – and Glenmore Park, with an indoor velodrome. Both would see major court space, recreational pools, twin ice rinks and two artificial turfs.

“The Glenmore site in particular is heavily used by the community,” says Shelley Shea, Manager of Sport Development with the City of Calgary.

“This would be an enhancement for the community, Foothills as well, but because of the location of this site, building it to be a huge recreational asset as well.”

However, the price tag is also huge – the 10-year construction would come at a cost of between $450- and $490-million.

The legacy of the 1988 Olympic Games means Calgary has world class winter training sites, but Gramantik says this plan would give Calgary a chance to be the national hub for summer sports as well.

City Parks and Recreation is presenting a funding plan to city council this October. Over $300-million would go towards the field houses. The rest of the money would primarily go to replacing aging facilities.