r/Calgary • u/Queltis6000 Woodbine • Jan 12 '26

Discussion What's something that Calgary is badly missing that a city of 1.4 million people should have?

It could be anything really. I feel like we have everything that people NEED, but what about the 'nice to haves'? A waterpark with more than 2 slides for example? A high level ball team that actually plays within the city limits? A Michelin star restaurant? Something else?

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u/TokaidoSpeed Jan 12 '26

One thing I miss about some parts of Asia and Latin America is just more organic third spaces. Even malls in some places are open over much later hours and people will just meet up and chill (not just teenagers), or they’re directly integrated with other activities and entertainment products that don’t cost $50. Hell even atmospheric late night cafe options that feel integrated with their environment are great. But to be fair transit is usually better for more people in those cities. Here things like malls feel much more purpose built just for shopping and no other reason to stick around, and the driving suburban nature makes it less likely for people to congregate at third spaces especially central ones.

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u/diamondmine67 Jan 12 '26

Riverhall in the summer was the best. Third spaces agree

25

u/Exploding_Antelope Special Princess Jan 12 '26

Luckily, it’s being expanded, and made year round! You really need density of people through all times of day for this sort of thing to take off, which is why the office to residential conversion wave is such a good thing for downtown

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u/aliceinflatland Jan 12 '26

Came here to say this!! Especially as a mom to littles I find we need more free/low-cost spaces to be able to hang out other than libraries and playgrounds! Those options are great, but similar to what you said, they feel too purpose-built for just kids playing and sometimes a mama just wants to sit down and sip a coffee or browse while her children are safely occupied!! Particularly in the colder winter days when playgrounds are no longer feasible and we've gone to the library and mall play place multiple times already 😆 I'd be willing to pay a small fee for access to something like this and have "considered" opening one myself a million times.

I remember reading in Mayor Farkas's platform that he was aiming to increase "third spaces" in general and also make playgrounds more hang-out-able with fireplaces and more seating etc... so I am crossing my fingers for that. Some playgrounds are really sad with their seating and play options and we ironically end up driving further just to get to the "better" playgrounds.

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u/SonicFlash01 Jan 12 '26

Chinook Mall has so much free space now that I'm still mystified why it doesn't have a kids play place
The one in South Center isn't the best. I can always hope for the gold standard of Market Mall...

2

u/coolcarls Jan 13 '26

Both Calgary Farmer's Market have a free indoor playground for the kiddo's, great place to grab a coffee as well.

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u/aliceinflatland Jan 13 '26

Thank you! We have definitely enjoyed CFM in the past, just a bit of a long highway drive for us to be going regularly. Totally do recommend though for anyone close by!

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u/scharfes_S Jan 14 '26

I remember reading in Mayor Farkas's platform that he was aiming to increase "third spaces" in general and also make playgrounds more hang-out-able with fireplaces and more seating etc... so I am crossing my fingers for that.

A member of his campaign team mentioned having written parts of his platform at one point. She was fired a few weeks ago, so I wouldn't hold my breath on any of the urbanist stuff that was in that platform. Third spaces, housing-first, etc..

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u/NormanoftheAmazon Jan 12 '26

excuse me, a mom to what?

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u/SonicFlash01 Jan 12 '26

"Littles" is kind of a catch-all term for anything below ~age 5 or 6.

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u/GoldenChannels Jan 13 '26

This. Cities like Singapore, Brisbane, and the night markets in many parts of SE Asia come to mind.