Even if you don’t have a yard of your own, you can get out and enjoy some popular yard games while the weather is nice. Here are a few parks to get you started.
Where to play bocce ball (or go lawn bowling)…
If you want an organized experience:
Calgary’s lawn bowling clubs
If you’re a little more serious than leisurely when it comes to your yard games, consider registering for a summer league at one of the city’s many lawn bowling clubs. Depending on which part of the city you live in, check out the Rotary Park Lawn Bowls Club, Inglewood Lawn Bowling Club, Stanley Park Lawn Bowling Club or the Bow Valley Lawn Bowling Club.
If you want a game with a view:
Shouldice Park
4900 Monserrat Dr. N.W.
Shouldice Park is usually (at least a little) less crowded than Edworthy Park and it has some flat green space to set up a bocce game. This is the park for a compact game before you get down to business on that barbeque lunch by the river.
If bocce ball is only one part of your plan for the day:
Valleyview Park
3224 26 St. S.E.
This newish park between Inglewood and Dover is the place to play if you’re also looking at playing some slow pitch (there are ball diamonds), lobbing a volleyball (there are beach volleyball courts) and lounging by a body of water (there’s an artificial pond).
Where to play croquet…
If you like all the swinging sports:
Confederation Park
24 Ave. and 14 St. N.W.
If you’re looking to extend your day in the sun after a game of golf, pack the croquet set along with your golf clubs before you leave the house. After golfing at the Confederation Golf Course (or playing tennis at the park’s tennis courts), set up your croquet course in one of the many open green spaces. There are also playgrounds to keep the kids entertained and big deciduous trees to keep you shaded.
If you want something to do after the zoo or science centre:
Pearce Estate Park
220 St. Georges Dr. N.E.
You’ve just spent the morning at either the Calgary Zoo or the Telus Spark science centre and you’re not ready to go home just yet. Head back to your car to pick up the croquet set and walk along the Nose Creek regional pathway to Bottomlands Park. There’s plenty of flat green space to set up the croquet course. (And we recommend heading into Bridgeland for an ice cream cone afterward.)
If you want to spend a full day at the park:
South Glenmore Park
90 Ave. and 24 St. S.W.
Walk the trails toward the Weaselhead. Then after enjoying a picnic lunch, play a casual game of croquet in the flat, green space between the playground and the pathway. If the game gets heated, unwind afterward by watching the sailboats on the reservoir. Or turn things up a notch with a game of tennis.
Where to play cricket…
If you want to learn from people who know what they’re doing:
Mountview Park
14th St. and 68th Ave. S.E.
This cricket pitch is a Glenmore Cricket Club location. This is a good place to start out if you want to want to get a handle on the game and learn a few of the rules by watching people who are already familiar with the game.
If you want a picturesque place to learn to play
Riley Park
800 12 St. N.W.
There’s lots of space to get used to the cricket bat at this park. And there’s a wading pool and a rock garden and plenty of restaurants and bars nearby to make the most of when you’re done. If you’re new to the sport, let the confident athletes use the pitch while you practice bowling off to the side.