Calgary’s East Village neighbourhood is now home to The Open, a permanent pickleball court and public washroom facility near the Bow River.
The $2.2 million project by the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) was announced last year, aiming to address infrastructure and social amenity needs in the community. The Open was designed by Winnipeg-based architecture firm Public City, whose proposal was chosen out of 11 total submissions in a nation-wide design challenge.
Spanning 3,000 square feet, the colourful yellow and teal facility features one outdoor pickleball court with a tiered seating area overlooking the court for observers. The real natural grass lawn growing on the facility roof creates a beautiful green space behind the seating area for guests to enjoy. The building also features four all-gender washroom stalls, one of which is fully wheelchair accessible with grab bars. These washrooms will replace the previous washroom facility along Calgary’s RiverWalk.
Calgarians can visit The Open year-round — washrooms are open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. while the pickleball court is available for recreation from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Facility maintenance will be managed by CMLC, and as part of a one-year pilot project, there will be two washroom attendants present during all open hours. The hours of operation will adapt seasonally, with the facility staying open longer during summertime.
The Open, 850 6 St. S.E., calgarymlc.ca