New sports field planned for northeast Calgary will boost accessibility for local neighbourhoods

A new multi-purpose sports field to serve northeast Calgary communities is coming to the popularGenesis Centre community hub in Martindale.

There are nearly 80 similar fields in other parts of the city, but this will be the first one for residents of the far northeast.

The new project includes an artificialfield, new lighting, fencing and bleachers.

The facility canused into the evenings and will extend the playing season around the winter months for sports like soccer, field hockey and football, without the maintenance required by a grass field.

"Just having this new artificial turf really escalates us to an A-classfieldand there isn't one in the northeast, and that really opens up our area to the community and allows organizations to bring events to our area," said Sherry King, executive director of the Genesis Centre.

"We're hoping to also upgrade the north field a little bit so it's a bit better for everybody."

Funding came from the provincial government,the city and the Genesis Centre, each providing $2-millionfora total cost of $6-million.

The project was one of Ward 5 Coun.George Chahal's first notices of motion in 2018 and a cause close to his heart.

"There are 78 class A and B fields in Calgary and this is the first one in northeast Calgary east of the Deerfoot," said Chahal.

Chahal said it's important for sports and recreation in Calgary and for equity amongstresidents.

The field will mean northeast Calgarians will have the same access to the type ofgood quality sports fields the rest of the city has beenaccustomed to for many years.

"I'm so happy to see that, with the support of city council, the Genesis Centre, and the province, that we have a very good partnership and that this has been recognized as a very good project to improve the lives of local residents," Chahal said.

Construction is due to start nextspring, completed by the end of 2021 and ready for community use in spring 2022.

The city is still gathering public input via the City of Calgary website.