March 05, 2021 | Andrea Cox

With over 400 acres of green space and plentiful outdoor amenities, Cranston promotes active lifestyle

When it came online almost 17 years ago, the southeast community of Cranston, with its characteristic windmill at its entrance, was at the forefront of new and exciting urban planning – design that pushed forward a new way of thinking about community, where access to nature and connecting people was top-of-mind.

"Cranston is a great example of thinking differently about community. It creates plenty of opportunities for residents of all generations to meet up, get outside, have fun, and engage in community events," said Jessie Seymour, senior manager of strategic marketing at Brookfield Residential, the developer behind the community.

Bounded by the Bow River on one side and Stoney Trail and Seton Boulevard S.E. on the other, the pie-shaped master-planned community borders a stunning escarpment with beautiful views, leading to the river. Take a stroll along the ridge and you'll immediately get a sense of Cranston's outdoor splendor. Biking and hiking into Fish Creek Park is right at the doorstep. In fact, Cranston features over 400 acres of green space to walk, play and revel in.

Spilling down the other side of upper Cranston's escarpment in Riverstone, which launched a few years ago, is an area of open green space, filled with natural foliage and walking trails. This connected pocket embraces 671 acres along the Bow River across to Cranston's escarpment. This smaller, intimate community will build on the close to 21,000 residents in upper Cranston and upon completion will be home to 3,500 residents. Each home will be constructed within steps of one of the area's seven parks.

"That what makes it so special – the natural beauty, peace and tranquility," said Brookfield's Seymour.

A beacon for solid interactive design, the residents' clubhouse anchors the community. It was an innovative concept at the time of Cranston's inception and one of the first residents' clubhouses to be integrated into a new community design in Calgary.

Coined Century Hall, this 22,000 square-foot facility offers plenty of opportunity for families to enjoy a variety of activities including skating, yoga, karate, and art and language classes. Outside you'll find adults and children alike, shooting hoops on the sport court, playing an impromptu game of hockey, a game of tennis or simply relaxing in the sun at the splash park. As children laugh and adults forge new friendships, Century Hall sits as the cornerstone, driving the interaction.

We really just like so many things – there is so much nature, it is really family friendly and very connected. There are all kinds of pathways leading everywhere. It promotes an active lifestyle; when you get home from work, you can go for a walk, run or bike ride so easily and Fish Creek Park is right here.

"The facility promotes healthy living and an enhanced quality of life, creating an opportunity to get to know your neighbors and develop friendships and connections," said Seymour.

That's certainly what you'll hear residents saying. Take for example, Kate Latter and her husband Mike, who wouldn't want to live anywhere else. They purchased a starter home in upper Cranston a few years ago and recently built a new home in Riverstone, Cranston's newest boutique neighbourhood.

"We really just like so many things – there is so much nature, it is really family friendly and very connected. There are all kinds of pathways leading everywhere. It promotes an active lifestyle; when you get home from work, you can go for a walk, run or bike ride so easily and Fish Creek Park is right here," he said.

Home designs in Riverstone include townhomes, villas, front drive homes, estate homes and luxury estate homes backing onto the Bow River. A new spread of move-up show homes will be opening on May 13th and new estate show homes will be opening in October. Buyers can expect even greater diversity in home offerings with smaller home styles and front-drive duplex designs coming onboard in the future.

As upper Cranston approaches final build-out with only three new-build multi-family projects remaining to unfold, it has established itself as a mature community with solid shopping, amenities and schools.

And just next door, in Seton's urban district a multitude of amenities are sprouting up from the new South Calgary Health Campus to Superstore, Save-On Foods, the VIP Cineplex and the South Campus YMCA. And Riverstone can take advantage of it all.

Tagged: Brookfield Residential | Calgary Community | Community Profile | Cranston | Fish Creek Park