Prince of Wales School Park Revitalization Project

Prince of Wales School is a K–6 school serving 340 students from the Parkland and Legacy communities in Calgary and is home to the Topp Kids after-school program. The existing playground is at the end of its life, no longer meets safety or accessibility standards, and is scheduled for removal in summer 2026. Despite its limitations, it remains heavily used by students and neighbours, demonstrating the urgent need for a safe, inclusive, and revitalized space.

The Park Revitalization Project will transform the area into a vibrant, multi-use gathering and learning space. The plan includes two outdoor classrooms with seating for up to 60 students, a new playground, three raised garden beds, a mural wall, two basketball nets, and the planting of 50 trees and shrubs. The design emphasizes inclusivity, accessibility, and cultural responsiveness, encouraging physical activity, creativity, social interaction, and connection to nature. Landscaped areas, seating, and shaded pathways will welcome people of all ages and abilities, creating open ended play and gathering opportunities.

The outdoor classrooms will serve as living classrooms, linking curriculum to the natural environment and supporting students who thrive outside traditional settings. The student-led mural will be a dynamic expression of learning and community identity, repainted seasonally to reflect new themes and stories. Native vegetation will provide shade and offer students hands-on opportunities to study biodiversity and environmental stewardship. The space will also host land-based learning and Indigenous teachings led by the school’s Elder, aligning with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. Up to eight classes will use the outdoor classrooms daily. The new playground, basketball nets, and landscaped areas will promote physical activity, social development, and imaginative play, key elements of children’s overall wellbeing. The basketball court will engage older students. The space will serve as a community hub after school hours.

This project will strengthen academic outcomes, foster environmental literacy, and promote healthy, active living. Purposefully designed to function as both a classroom and community gathering space, the revitalized park will provide lasting benefits, cultivating learning, connection, and belonging for students, families, and neighbours alike.

The Park Revitalization Project at Prince of Wales School will benefit a wide range of individuals from the school and surrounding communities, creating a lasting, inclusive space for learning, play, and connection. First and foremost, all 340 students and teachers at Prince of Wales School will benefit from safe, accessible, and engaging outdoor spaces that support both structured and unstructured learning. The two outdoor classrooms will allow teachers to deliver lessons across all subjects in a hands on, nature-based environment that supports multiple learning styles. Students who thrive outside traditional settings (kinesthetic, experiential, and visual learners) will gain new opportunities to explore, experiment, and connect curriculum concepts to the natural world. These experiences will enhance focus, creativity, academic engagement, and overall, well being. The project will also serve the after-school program, providing participants with safe, enriching spaces for recreation, socialization, and outdoor play. Beyond the school, the project will benefit the 3,430 residents of the Parkland community, as well as families from nearby neighborhoods, who visit the school grounds for recreation and community events. The revitalized park will serve as a neighborhood gathering hub, where children, parents, grandparents, and community members can connect, relax, and play together. The new playground and landscaped areas will support children of all ages and abilities, offering inclusive, barrier-free play opportunities that encourage physical activity, imagination, and social interaction. The addition of basketball nets will engage older youth who currently have limited recreation options nearby, providing a healthy outlet and helping strengthen community connections among youth. The outdoor learning spaces will also be used for cultural and Indigenous teachings, led by the school’s Elder, benefiting both students and community members by fostering understanding, reconciliation, and respect for the land.

In the long term, the revitalized park will benefit families, caregivers, educators, and community organizations, providing an inclusive, welcoming environment that promotes environmental literacy, active living, and lifelong learning. The gathering area is not only an immediate improvement to our park space but a long-term legacy that empowers children, families, and neighbors to co-create a more vibrant, inclusive, and resilient community.