Big Marlborough Park was created in the 1970s. Since then, it has remained largely untouched. It is a heavily used greenspace in the heart of the northeast community of Marlborough Park, bordered by four schools and the Marlborough Park Community Association. Demographics in northeast Calgary show a higher population of new Canadians and ethnic groups for which parks and open spaces are vital to building a sense of community and supporting newcomers.

As one of the fastest-growing quadrants in the city, the northeast has limited redeveloped regional park facilities to service the area’s high demands. Existing features within Big Marlborough Park, such as the tennis courts, soccer fields, baseball diamonds, playground, and toboggan hill, are nearing the end of their lifecycle or could use a refreshment and redevelopment to better serve the growing population.

The Big Marlborough Park Master Plan project aims to enhance this regional park and improve park amenities. Many existing features within the park are nearing the end of their lifecycle and require updates.

Big Marlborough Park was identified by the Legacy Park Program as a park that needs enhancement to better serve park users for generations to come. The Legacy Park Program invest funds in much needed upgrades and improvements to local Calgary parks.

We are eager to hear from Calgarians on how we can improve Big Marlborough Park.

We are in the second round of public engagement and want to hear from you. Join us at upcoming events or online to share your opinion and view the preliminary park designs. Your feedback will help inform the future park design.

Phase 1, round 1 of public engagement concluded in Summer 2024. It focused on understanding the community's values and priorities for Big Marlborough Park.

Phase 1, round 2 will seek public feedback on preliminary concept designs. This is scheduled for Spring 2025.

Phase 1, round 3 will occur in Fall 2025 with the presentation of the Big Marlborough Park Master Plan.

Google map image of Big Marlborough Park. It shows the green space, several ball diamonds, and surrounding buildings (schools and community centre).

The process of upgrading Big Marlborough Park is still in progress.

The preferred park plan developed during the master plan phase will now move into the detailed design phase where it will continue to evolve.

Detailed Design

The detailed design phase is when concepts are refined to identify park features such as lamp posts, benches, trash cans, signage and landscaping.

This phase will transform the preferred park plan into a detailed construction plan and may appear different from the preferred plan due to design standards, market variations or technical constraints identified during the detailed design phase.

Anticipated Construction

We anticipate the construction plan to be completed in phases over the course of a couple of years.

Watch for project updates in 2026. Nearby residents will be notified of start dates prior to construction beginning.

Regional parks provide a special purpose or attraction which benefits users beyond an immediate community. They are designed to support longer durations of stay, accommodate a range of activities, serve multiple communities and include specialized amenities which would not be typically found in community parks, such as multi-sport surfaces, cultural landscapes or accommodation for large event spaces.

A master plan for a park serves as a roadmap. It guides how the park should be developed, used, and managed, considering its natural, cultural, and historical features. The plan is closely followed to ensure effective park management.

Download or read the Connect: Calgary's Parks Plan by clicking this link: Connect: Calgary's Parks Plan