'It speaks to Calgary's history': Prince's Island Park's history-themed playground set for a revamp

Parks Foundation Calgary is asking Calgarians for feedback as they and the city prepare to overhaul a popular playground at Prince’s Island Park.

A bustling spot swarming with kids most weekend afternoons, the playground is known for its Calgary-inspired theme, including swing sets shaped like white cowboy hats and a train-shaped slide structure called the “Eau Claire Express.”

The playground was installed in 2003 and is nearing the end of its lifecycle, said Junette Huynh, a project director for Parks Foundation Calgary.

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With the playground due for a revitalization, the Parks Foundation is asking those who use the playground what they like about the amenity and what they’d like to see for its next chapter.

“This refresh has the potential to create a meaningful ripple effect, shaping how thousands of people experience one of Calgary’s most-loved public spaces for years to come,” the civic partner said in a Facebook post.

Huynh said the playground is possibly the most visited in Calgary, though it’s hard to know for sure how many people use it, considering it’s a free amenity in a public park.

She said its high usership is likely due to being within a central regional park that already attracts visitors from across the city.

“It speaks to Calgary’s history and identity that I think people really resonate with and I think they like seeing those aspects in the playground’s design,” she said.

The survey was launched earlier this summer — a sign advertises the questionnaire to visitors at the playground — and will be answerable for one more month, according to Huynh.

After feedback has been collected, the foundation and city will work on a new design for the playground throughout the winter, with construction possibly starting next summer, resulting in the space’s temporary closure.

It’s still too early to know the project’s budget or how long construction will last, Huynh said, noting those factors will depend on design details and permit approvals.

“We recognize the unique popularity of the park itself and the number of users that need to use that space, so we’ll be as thoughtful as we can in terms of the planning around access and loss of access to the playground,” she said.