"Sport strips away personality, letting the white bone
of character shine through. Sport gives players an
opportunity to know and test themselves."
Rita Mae Brown
"Sport strips away personality, letting the white bone
of character shine through. Sport gives players an
opportunity to know and test themselves."
Rita Mae Brown
The multisport fieldhouse project may well be an idea whose time has finally come.
In 2008, the 10–Year Strategic Plan for Sport Facility Development and Enhancement developed by the City of Calgary and the Calgary Sport Council named indoor tracks, gymnasia, indoor fields and multipurpose rooms as primary needs. A multisport fieldhouse is ideally suited to meet these needs.
In addition, the proposed fieldhouse meets five of six City of Calgary priorities as outlined in the Needs and Preferences study completed last fall.
In January 2009, a multisport fieldhouse was included in the City of Calgary's Proposed Recommendations for Economic Stimulus submitted to the federal government (see page 18).
The Fieldhouse Society has raised funds for a feasibility study. The first phase of the study is now complete and the second phase is under way and should be completed by summer 2010. In the meantime, the Society is working in co-operation with the City as it develops a recreation master plan for the Foothills and Glenmore Athletic Parks.
Conceptual master plans for the two parks were presented to the public at two Open Houses in late April 2010 and are currently posted on the Calgary Sport Council website. You can see the conceptual plans here.
The next step will be for City Council to consider and approve the plans.
The proposed fieldhouse meets City of Calgary priorities in these significant areas:
PUBLIC DEMAND
A multisport fieldhouse will improve the quality of life for the city's more than 300,000 sports and recreation enthusiasts, including seniors and people with disabilities. It will:
In addition, it will attract national and international events and competitions, allowing our local athletes a chance to compete on their home ground.
CONTRIBUTING TO CALGARY'S SOCIAL WELL-BEING
Sport and recreation are viewed positively force by the vast majority of Canadians. We believe that:
CONTRIBUTING TO CALGARY'S ECONOMIC WELL-BEING
It is estimated that the fieldhouse will bring millions of dollars in sport tourism revenue to Calgary by attracting national and international events that previously could not be hosted in our city.
CONTRIBUTING TO CALGARY'S ENVIRONMENTAL WELL-BEING
The fieldhouse will be located at a site accessible to public transportation. This will both increase access to the facility and reduce the need for space dedicated to parking.
As a new building, it will be able to take advantage of the lastest energy-saving technolgies.
