I spend a lot of the summer outdoors with my kids. In the dry Calgary heat, there is nothing better than finding a great place to play outdoors where you can still keep cool. Here are four different options for fun outdoor water play including two downtown Calgary parks, a rocky river beach and a sand-filled lake beach.
Water play
Central Memorial Park – 1221, 2 Street SW. This downtown park sports two fountains as well as a walkway with water sprays running along it. Although not exactly a water park, they purify the water along the walkway with sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) so it’s safe for the kids to play in. During the summer, the flowers in the park are beautiful as well, and there are seasonal washrooms. To top it off, Haultain Park (225, 13 Avenue SW) is only a block away and has one of the best playgrounds in the city.
Olympic Plaza – 228, 8 Avenue SE. Located right along the downtown C-Train line, Olympic Plaza has a large reflecting pond that can be used as a wading pool as well as a few large water sprays. The water in the pool was deeper and larger than I had expected – more than just your kids’ ankles will be getting wet. There are year-round washrooms that are a little hard to see at first but are part of the pool structure on the north side.
Beaches
Sikome Lake (Sikome Aquatic Facility) – Fish Creek Provincial Park – Bow Bottom Trail SE or Sun Valley Boulevard SE off Highway 22X. When I asked a couple years ago where the closest beach was, I was surprised to find the answer was inside the city limits. Best of all, it is completely free and accessible to everyone. Run by the Alberta Parks department, Sikome Lake is a man-made beach and artificial lake. At its deepest, the lake is seven feet so it is warmer than most lakes. The water is tested, filtered and chlorine-treated to ensure it is safe for swimming. You can bring your floaty toys and inflatable boats or rafts. New as of last year, children under seven are required to wear a personal flotation device. On busier days, they open up the concession and the south side parking lot.
Sandy Beach Park – 4500, 14A Street SW. Contrary to the name, there is no sand at this park. There is, however, a lovely river beach. Located along the Elbow River (a much gentler, shallower river than the Bow River), Sandy Beach is the best place in the city to play in the river. The water is quite shallow at this part of the river, and there is a rocky but shallow shore beside it. Bring a bucket and a pail; and don’t forget your swimsuits. It’s perfect for wading in and throwing rocks in the river. When you are done in the water, you can have a picnic in one of their great picnic spots afterward. You can also launch your canoes and rafts from the park.
Dana spends her free time seeking out the best indoor and outdoor places to play in Calgary with her two young kids and blogging about them. For more information, visit www.calgaryplaygroundreview.com.
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