Downtown park to reopen in October with new amphitheatre, splash pond, washrooms and more

The restoration of a downtown Calgary park is nearing completion after years of planning and several unexpected snags in construction.

Century Gardens Park is slated to reopen to the public in October with a new amphitheatre, a splash pond, public washrooms and two new buildings for potential businesses, such as a food concession.

Construction on the redevelopment for the park at 8th Street S.W. and 8th Avenue S.W. initially began in 2018 after several years of planning.

But the project hit unexpected snags — problems were discovered with underground utilities and the previously buried foundations of former buildings.

• 'Unforeseen challenges' resolved, Calgary's Century Gardens makeover back on track

Andrew King, a senior project manager with Calgary Parks, said work should wrap up in late September. 

"There have been a few other complications on site. It's quite a complex site with the old heritage features buried below ground, as well," King said. "But we are moving forward according to schedule and looking forward to completion."

King said that the project has stayed on budget amidst the economic downturn, even as the scope of the work involved changed.

"All the complications that we've had on site have at least been within what had been anticipated for the funding, so the budgets are still in place," King said. "The budgets are still quite healthy and we haven't [had] a reason or need to spend beyond the budget."

Century Gardens was originally created in 1975 to mark Calgary's centennial.