Fitness fanatics and leisure buffs can enjoy a handful of recreation options in Edmonton and the surrounding area. A couple of them are brand-new, including one slated to open later this year, while the rest have been ultra-modified to meet international standards.  Some even offer some visual eye candy to folks eager to find out what’s in store for them. 

Central Park (Spruce Grove)

Central Park has been a popular recreation hub in Spruce Grove for years. A year after its upgrade, locals have since had an even greater incentive to visit the space. Opened in the wake of an $8.7-million construction contract, the park offers a blend of new perks and familiar amenities, from the splash pad and fire pit to a shaded picnic space and skating oval. 

But the big draw is the creation of one of the largest wheeled sports parks in the province, with a street-styled area that features some challenging ledges, ramps and stairs for skateboard enthusiasts. Pedal pushers also have access to an assortment of new trails, while additional benches and elaborate illumination punctuate the surroundings.

Coronation Park Sports & Recreation Centre (Edmonton)

After three years of renovations, the venerable Peter Hemingway Aquatic Centre northwest of downtown re-emerged in January in the form of a multi-purpose fitness facility on steroids. The pool is still there, albeit upgraded with new amenities like a cold splash pool. But now it shares expanded space with a 250-metre velodrome oval, a 333-metre running track, a bouldering wall for ardent rock climbers, and scores of training centres, studios and spaces. 

The whole structure was built for $153 million, enough to fill at least a decade’s worth of potholes, if frugal taxpayers had their way. But proponents of the centre claim it won’t be long before those costs will be recovered. For openers, the facility is the only one of its kind in North America to house under one roof all the features required by triathletes. It’s been reported that triathlon teams overseas have already started booking the place.

And while everything in the Coronation’s 16,000 square-metre confines match world-class standards, don’t expect high-profile elites to monopolize the space. Everything’s been designed for users of all ages and athletic abilities.

Hawrelak Park (Edmonton)

Hawrelak Park is one of Edmonton’s most popular green spaces—ground zero for the Heritage Festival, Shakespeare in the Park and several other events—so when the city announced it was closed for renovations in 2023, thousands of ears perked up. But with the park’s opening this year, locals discovered how much work went into the $134.5-million makeover.

Some changes really stand out, like the Heritage Amphitheatre being refitted with state-of-the-art lighting. The main pavilion boasts upgraded fixtures and finishes right down to the washrooms, as well as an adjacent promenade bordering the lake. The huge attraction for kids is a playground that consists of three coniferous tree towers with a plethora of interactive features. And throughout the park, several new hiking trails lead patrons through a new landscape, complete with freshly rooted trees and other vegetation.

The revitalization budget also covered what isn’t visible, namely, the replacement of an elaborate maze of underground pipes and wiring, and the installation of more modernized electrical and storm sewer systems.

Joint Trail Connection (Spruce Grove/Stony Plain)

With scores of paths streaming through Edmonton’s river valley, a new corridor wouldn’t raise many eyebrows in the city. But one trail connecting two municipalities was a huge deal for residents of Spruce Grove and Stony Plain when it opened in 2024. Taking a year to complete, the project cost around $450,000, with Spruce Grove paying for two-thirds of the endeavour, and Stony Plain ponying up the rest. 

The 1.6 km Joint Trail Connection starts at Campsite Road in Spruce Grove, runs just south of Hwy 16A, and finishes at Veterans Boulevard. Built with recreation and safety in mind, the trail mitigates the risks previously taken by pedestrians and two-wheelers when they commuted between the two communities on the highway’s shoulders.

Stony Plain Regional Community Recreation Facility (Stony Plain)

Still under construction at a cost of around $41.6 million, this complex has a good chance of officially opening its doors before the year is out. Once the ceremonial ribbon has been cut, locals will be greeted by a building that will offer an array of pickleball courts, a dryland fieldhouse with a turfed surface, and spaces for several additional sports.

Also included in the blueprints for the family-friendly facility are six curling ice sheets, a walking and running track, and even a lounge for patrons to relax after the fun and games.

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