Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Mattamy Homes Canada President Brad Carr Help Launch Parks Foundation Calgary's Third and Final Phase of the Rotary/Mattamy Greenway

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Sept. 16, 2015) - The third phase of the $60 million Rotary/Mattamy Greenway was launched today in Cityscape, one of Calgary's newest, emerging neighbourhoods.

Along with commencement of the final phase of what will be the largest urban system of parks and pathways in the world when completed in 2017, the new #mygreenway was shared on social media by Mayor Naheed Nenshi, who tweeted to his 255,000 followers.

"The nearly-completed Rotary/Mattamy Greenway is an amazing amenity because it allows all Calgarians to enjoy our city's natural beauty any time of the year, no matter what quadrant of the city we live in," Mayor Nenshi said, adding that he hopes many Calgarians enjoy and share their stories of the Greenway.

He said building an amenity the size of the Greenway (with 138 km of pathways, and up to 20 urban parks including 10 wetlands preservation areas when completed) is not easy but "in Calgary, we have the heart, the grit, the passion to make it happen."

The start of the final phase of the project was celebrated in Cityscape, the new northeast neighbourhood being built by Mattamy Homes, the company that is also a title sponsor of the entire Greenway, along with Calgary and area Rotary Clubs.

In Cityscape, three kilometres of pathways have been built along massive preserved wetlands, with rest nodes and a neighbourhood playground, as part of the Greenway.

Brad Carr, President of Mattamy Homes Canada, the largest homebuilder in the country, says the decision to contribute $5 million as a title sponsor - its first major philanthropic contribution in Western Canada - into the Greenway, as well as to include the Greenway within Cityscape, was a natural one.

"At Mattamy Homes, we have a focus with our community involvement on health and wellness, and doing our part in building vibrant communities that enrich peoples' lives. We are proud to be involved in such an amazing initiative that will help people live healthier, more active lives while connecting this great city more closely together."

Myrna Dube, CEO of Parks Foundation Calgary, detailed the progress of the Greenway from a "crazy idea" six years ago, to the end of this year when it will be 90 per cent complete.

Other significant "numbers" she cited:

• Of the 138 km of pathways in the Greenway network, only 13.7 km are left to build. These pathways will connect to the 1,000 km already built within Calgary;
  
  
• The Greenway will have 20 specialty parks, including two dog parks completed and one slated for construction, and 10 significant wetland interpretive areas
  
  
• $50 million in cash and in-kind contributions has been raised from more than 100 partners that range from corporations, land developers, service clubs, all levels of government and individual donors.
  
  
• When the Greenway is completed around Calgary in 2017, it will connect directly into 55 neighbourhoods, with more than 400,000 residents.
  
  

Other third phase partners, besides Mattamy, include Tourmaline Oil Corp., Progress Energy, Walton International, Qualico Developments, WAM Development, Keyera and Enbridge.

The Greenway is the 30-year-old Parks Foundation's biggest project yet. Other projects have included Shaw Millennium Park and Rotary Challenger Park, along with neighbourhood playgrounds throughout the city.

Phase Three of the Greenway is the final 74 kilometres of the giant wheel that will circle Calgary, taking it from Airport Trail through Cityscape, then connecting with two new, side-by-side communities on the most northeastern tip of the city, SkyView Ranch and Redstone.

The Greenway then traverses west to 12-Mile Coulee, south to connect into Baker Park, Bowmont Park, and Edworthy Park. The pathway will travel south along Sarcee Trail and 37th Street to the west edge of Fish Creek Park, which completes the 138-kilometre loop.