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9 Calgary Neighbourhoods With Outdoor Skating Rinks

Posted by Justin Havre on Monday, August 15th, 2022 at 2:05pm.

Calgary Neighbourhoods With Outdoor Skating Rinks

Calgary comes to life with fun things to do during the winter! With its proximity to the Rocky Mountains and WinSport, the local winter sports arena, many of Calgary's best outdoor activities don't start until the temperatures drop. Among the area's many cold-weather amenities, skating rinks is one of the most highly sought-after. Not only is hockey one of the country's favourite sports, but ice skating is also one of Calgary's most popular winter activities. As a result, many of the best neighbourhoods in Calgary offer outdoor skating rinks. Strap on your skates and get ready for some winter fun!

Bridgeland: 9a Park Bridgeland Rink

Nestled on the northern banks of the Bow River, Bridgeland is home to some of the area's best nature trails, bike paths, and green spaces, including the Calgary Zoo and Tom Campbell Hill's Nature Park.

Bridgeland homes for sale offer the best of both worlds--a tight-knit community within the city. It is also home to one of the city's most popular skating rinks: 9a Park Bridgeland Rink.

What was conceptualized as part of Calgary Park's Adopt-A-Rink program, this rink was built and maintained entirely by Bridgeland community volunteers. This Calgary outdoor skating rink is popular with neighbourhood residents, families, and children. Along with a well-maintained rink, 9a Park Bridgeland Rink also has bench seating and a firepit for skaters to warm up.

Unlike other rinks in the area, this rink is purely meant for casual ice skating, meaning no hockey sticks are allowed. Skaters will also need to bring their own skates since there are no on-site rentals.

Bridgeland Amenities

  • Calgary Zoo
  • Tom Campbell's Hill Natural Park
  • Riverside Park
  • Tom Campbell's Hill Off-Leash Dog Park
  • Made By Marcus- Bridgeland
  • IKUSA Izakaya & Tokyo Market

Marlborough: The Rink at Marlborough Park

Marlborough Park's Ice Rink is Lighted

Situated in northeast Calgary, homes in Marlborough are just 10 minutes from the bustling downtown area. With its quiet tree-lined streets and fantastic shopping centers, Marlborough is a highly-desirable community with many attractive amenities for its residents.

With two large parking lots nearby, the Marlborough Park Rink is one of the neighbourhood's most popular attractions during winter. Open from 5 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. during the winter months, this well-maintained rink is lit up when the sun goes down. Along with the fantastic rink, some of the amenities include walking paths, a sledding hill, outdoor seating, and a fire pit to warm up after skating. Skaters will need to bring their own skates to this rink since there are no on-site rentals available.

Marlborough Amenities

  • Marlborough Mall
  • Marlborough Park
  • Marlyn Playground
  • Let's Bowl Bowling Alley
  • Gong Cha Marlborough Bubbletea
  • Maryvale Community Playground
  • Mehfil Curry and Kebab
  • Sussy balls

North Glenmore Park: North Glenmore Ice Trail

Located north of the Glenmore Reservoir, North Glenmore Park is one of the city's most beautiful neighbourhoods, with its stunning parks, spectacular golf courses, and stately homes. This southern Calgary neighbourhood, located just 15 minutes from Downtown Calgary, is a fantastic community for outdoor lovers and nature enthusiasts, regardless of the time of year. During the warmer months, many residents flock to Sandy Beach Park or the Early Grey Golf Club for a round or two of golf.

Yet, North Glenmore Park truly shines during the winter months, with its easy access to outdoor winter activities. For area skaters, there is North Glenmore Park's skating rink. Not only is the park equipped with a well-taken-care skating rink, but it's also connected to the North Glenmore Ice Trail, which measures 730 metres in length. Some lights illuminate the trail along this brand new path, making it scenic and accessible after dark. This skating path does have hills, making it a bit more challenging than a typical skating rink, but these features give the rink greater dimension.

North Glenmore Park Amenities

  • Glenmore Park
  • Calgary Canoe Club
  • Calgary Rowing Club
  • Lakeview Golf Course
  • Glenmore Dam Off-Leash Dog Park
  • Calgary Golf & Country Club

Riverbend: Carburn Park Skating Rink

Carburn Park's Rink Features Skyline Views

Home to Sue Higgins Park, the city's largest off-leash dog park, Riverbend is a community 15 minutes south of Downtown Calgary. Known for its many parks and nature trails, the Riverbend neighbourhood is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. Riverbend is conveniently located next to major throughways like Glenmore Trail and 18th Street SE, making it ideal for commuters and nature lovers.

Beyond its green spaces and off-leash dog parks, Riverbend is home to one of the area's most beloved skating rinks: Carburn Park's skating rink. Nestled beneath Calgary's iconic skyline, skaters can look at the glimmering city while skating on the park's frozen pond.

Open from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m, this park has more limited hours compared to many other skating rinks in the area, but skaters more than make up for that by being nestled in one of the city's best nature parks. While the rink does not offer skate rentals, there is a fire pit where skaters can warm up.

Riverbend Amenities

  • Riverbend Park
  • Carburn Park
  • Rivercrest Playground
  • Oishii Sushi
  • The Park Kitchen & Bar
  • Remington YMCA in Quarry Park

Bowness: Bowness Skating Trail

While Bowness is located only 15 minutes away from Downtown Calgary, this small community feels like it's worlds apart from the vibrant downtown area. Surrounded by nature parks and the Bow River, Bowness homes for sale present a welcoming, tight-knit neighbourhood with some of the best nature trails and green spaces in the Calgary Metropolitan Area.

During the summer months, Bowness is a popular destination for water sports, such as paddleboarding and boating, but it's just as popular during the winter, especially for skaters. Bowness is home to the Bowness Park Lagoon, a year-round leisure spot that becomes a skater's paradise during winter.

This popular skating rink is truly a winter wonderland from December to February! Skaters can skate on the famous lagoon or the new skating trail, which is lit up after the sun goes down. Along with skating, outdoor enthusiasts can rent ice bikes at Bowness Trail, adding more dimension to the already lively area. When skaters need to warm up, a fire pit and a nearby cafe sell hot drinks, including coffee.

Bowness Amenities

  • Bowness Park
  • WinSport
  • Shouldice Park
  • Bowglen Park
  • Bowness Sportsplex
  • Bowness Skate Park
  • Upper Wood's Home Trail - Jeal Nature Path
  • Bowness Park Boathouse

Beltline: Barb Scott Park and Thompson Family Park

The Two Rinks in Beltline Are Near Nightlife Opportunities

Beltline is famous for its nightlife, but there's plenty more to do in this central community. With its variety of world-class restaurants and highly walkable streets, Beltline is just a 7-minute drive to Calgary's Downtown Core. The array of Beltline condos for sale makes it very popular for residents who want to live right in the middle of the action. Along with the area's bike trails, green spaces, and dining options, another amenity that's becoming increasingly popular is the area's skating rinks: Barb Scott Park and Thompson Family Park.

For art lovers, Barb Scott Park is located by Calgary's famous Chinook Arc, an interactive illuminated public art piece. This means skaters can time their glides to align with the exhibit's changing colours. While more traditional, Thompson Family Park's skating rink is every bit as famous as Barb Scott Park's dazzling rink. The Thompson Family Park, in addition to being an excellent skating rink, is within walking distance to some of the area's best restaurants.

Beltline Amenities

  • Barb Scott Park
  • Twisted Element
  • Pig & Duke Neighbourhood Pub
  • Shaw Millennium Park
  • Century Gardens

Downtown Calgary: Olympic Plaza

Downtown Calgary is a vibrant urban district in the center of Canada's third-largest city, with world-class restaurants, towering condos for sale, and lush city parks. Downtown Calgary is at the confluence of the Bow River and the Elbow River and is surrounded by some of Western Canada's most striking high-rises.

In the middle of it all, the Olympic Plaza ice rink boasts a delightful ambience for skating both day and night. Flanked by city lights and buildings, the Olympic Plaza is not only an incredibly popular skating rink, it's one of the most photographed areas during the winter months due to its beauty. Not only are there spectacular views of Calgary Tower, the Olympic Plaza, taking inspiration from New York's Rockefeller Center, has a towering Christmas tree that lights up the area during the holiday season.

Downtown Calgary Amenities

  • Prince's Island Park
  • Eau Claire Park
  • Shaw Millenium Park
  • McDougall Centre
  • The Keg Steakhouse + Bar
  • Teatro Ristorante

Castleridge: Prarie Winds Park

The Prairie Winds Rink is also near Tobaggan Hills

Situated 20 minutes northwest of Downtown Calgary, Castleridge is set in a quiet, residential area in one of the city's most desirable districts. Castleridge is an established neighbourhood with many recreational facilities, including sports complexes, golf courses, and nature trails.

Even in the winter months, the Castleridge neighbourhood has plenty of options for outdoor enthusiasts, including the popular Prairie Winds Park. Prairie Winds Park, located near Wingfield Golf Club, is a 16-hectare park that's popular year-round. Prairie Winds Park is best known for its skating rink and tobogganing hills from December to February. This rink is ideal for every type of skater, including leisurely skaters and hockey players.

Castleridge Amenities

  • Prairie Winds Park
  • Wingfield Golf Club
  • NESS: Don Hartman North East Sportsplex
  • Cactus Club Cafe

Rosedale: Rosedale Community Park

Centrally located along the Bow River, Rosedale is a highly sought-after neighbourhood just north of Downtown Calgary. With tree-lined streets and large lots, Rosedale homes for sale are some of the city's most desirable. Rosedale is home to some of the city's best parks, including Sunnybank Park, and shares a border with Prince's Island Park. Rosedale has a fantastic skating rink in Rosedale Community Park, along with the area's spectacular city parks.

Unlike many rinks in the area, there is no time limit, so skaters can stay as long as they want! However, the lights automatically turn off at 10:30 p.m, so skaters staying any later will have to turn the lights back on and turn them off before they leave. This rink is very popular for skating games, such as shimmy.

Rosedale Amenities

  • Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
  • McHugh Bluff
  • Sunnyside Bank Park
  • Riley Park
  • Rotary Park

Outdoor Rinks Bring Winter Fun to Calgary

Calgary residents will find various skating rinks in nearly every neighbourhood. From winding ice trails to the charming community-kept rinks, it's never hard to find a place to sharpen your skating skills in Calgary. Explore these Calgary neighbourhoods and discover all the beautiful outdoor skating spots

If you're looking for the perfect Calgary home, contact Justin Havre with eXp Realty and Calgary Homes at (403) 217-0003 to get in touch with a local Calgary real estate agent and discover your new dream home today.

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