The new Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge has quickly become a community hub for area residents.
Cody Stuart / CREB®Now
March 05, 2021 | Andrea Cox
Community Profile: Royal Oak & Rocky Ridge
Nestled side by side, the northwest communities of Royal Oak and Rocky Ridge share an abundance of amenities, including grocery stores, community green spaces and walking trails. But two features that make these communities stand out are the jaw-dropping views of the Rocky Mountains and the brand-new Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge, a 284,000-square-foot health and wellness centre that opened its doors in January."The hunger and desire for this type of community space has been long anticipated," said Ken Lima-Coelho, vice-president of community engagement for YMCA Calgary.
He adds that interest in the new facility has been unprecedented in the history of the YMCA.
"We are already well on the way to having 14,000 members in this new location. The public has literally blown the doors off," he said, adding that residents in the surrounding areas have worked together to "make something really cool happen."
"I wake up every morning and look out at the mountains and the wide-open spaces, and it just gives me such peace of mind." - John Saunders, Rocky Ridge resident
The facility offers a long list of amenities, from a 3,000-square-foot public library – where Lima-Coelho says it's so busy they can't keep books on the shelves – to a leisure and wave pool, naturalized wetlands and park, and a 250-seat theatre.
It also offers everything one could wish for in a fitness centre. John Saunders lives in Rocky Ridge and has hit the running track and the 25-metre pool at the YMCA a few times since its opening.
"It's a really well thought out and beautiful facility – a real plus for the area," he said.
Saunders moved to Rocky Ridge a few years ago, attracted by the mountain views and the ease of access to the core, thanks to the Tuscany CTrain station.
"I wake up every morning and look out at the mountains and the wide-open spaces, and it just gives me such peace of mind," he said.
Top Attractions
- The brand-new, 284,000-square-foot Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge, which opened its doors in January of this year.
- Several parks and green spaces, including Mitra Natural Ravine Park, Rocky Ridge Park and Arad Park.
- Nearby Twelve Mile Coulee Park, home to 190 hectares of native grasslands, shrubs and trees.
- The mountain town of Cochrane, with its open-air markets and quaint main street, is only 18 kilometres away.
Tagged: Calgary Community | CTrain | Feature | Rocky Mountains | Rocky Ridge | Royal Oak | Shane Homes YMCA | Tuscany
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