{"id":5364,"date":"2026-08-04T09:58:36","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T15:58:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/riley-park-calgary"},"modified":"2026-08-04T14:58:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T20:58:58","slug":"riley-park-calgary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/riley-park-calgary","title":{"rendered":"Riley Park"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"padrino-inject-root\">\n<div class=\"padrino-inject-inner\">\n<div data-padrino-shell=\"1\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<p><a href=\"\/top-parks\">\u2190 TOP<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<p><strong>Park<\/strong> \u00b7 <span>Calgary<\/span> \u00b7 \u2b50 9.3\/10 \u00b7 2229 reviews  \u00b7 <em>updated: 2026-08-04 15:53:39<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<p><strong>Address:<\/strong> <span>800 12 St NW, Calgary, AB T2N 0S2, \u041a\u0430\u043d\u0430\u0434\u0430<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex is-nowrap wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:+1403-268-2489\">Call<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/dir\/?api=1&amp;destination=51.0585017,-114.0889728\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Get directions<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\">\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a72804e77853\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a72804e77853\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/riley-park-calgary\/#Riley_Park_%E2%80%94_cricket_a_wading_pool_and_a_rock_garden_in_Hillhurst\" >Riley Park \u2014 cricket, a wading pool and a rock garden in Hillhurst<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/riley-park-calgary\/#Highlights\" >Highlights<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/riley-park-calgary\/#What_youll_find\" >What you&#8217;ll find<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/riley-park-calgary\/#Things_to_do_%E2%80%94_and_who_its_for\" >Things to do \u2014 and who it&#8217;s for<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/riley-park-calgary\/#Getting_there_practical\" >Getting there &amp; practical<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/riley-park-calgary\/#When_to_visit\" >When to visit<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/riley-park-calgary\/#Good_to_know\" >Good to know<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/riley-park-calgary\/#Visitor_tips\" >Visitor tips<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/riley-park-calgary\/#Questions_answers\" >Questions &amp; answers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/riley-park-calgary\/#Photos\" >Photos<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/riley-park-calgary\/#Visitor_reviews\" >Visitor reviews<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Riley_Park_%E2%80%94_cricket_a_wading_pool_and_a_rock_garden_in_Hillhurst\"><\/span>Riley Park \u2014 cricket, a wading pool and a rock garden in Hillhurst<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Nine hectares of lawn, mature trees and flower beds between Kensington and the SAIT campus, given to the city by a homesteading family more than a century ago. A parks superintendent spent decades turning it into one of Calgary&#8217;s most gracious inner-city greens, and it still works as intended: cricket on the grass, children in the wading pool, a rock garden on the slope above.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Highlights\"><\/span>Highlights<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Two cricket grounds<\/strong> \u2014 historic home of the Calgary &amp; District Cricket League, whose roots here reach to 1908.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The Senator Patrick Burns Memorial Rock Garden<\/strong>, built from over 20,000 flagstones salvaged from Burns&#8217; demolished mansion.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The wading pool<\/strong>, a northwest summer institution drawing families since 1913.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Free Calgary Concert Band performances<\/strong> on the lawn each summer.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Formal flower beds and mature trees<\/strong> from William Roland Reader&#8217;s long tenure.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A large playground<\/strong> beside the pool, so one adult can watch both.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_youll_find\"><\/span>What you&#8217;ll find<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>One great open bowl of grass, edged by gardens on the high northern side and shaded by old trees elsewhere \u2014 a layout barely changed in a hundred years.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bookable cricket pitches in near-constant use May through September.<\/li>\n<li>A wading pool from mid-June into the fall, weather permitting.<\/li>\n<li>Playground, picnic tables and broad open lawns for lounging.<\/li>\n<li>Seasonal washrooms, fountains and an independent concession.<\/li>\n<li>Rock gardens terraced into the wooded north slope above the fields.<\/li>\n<li>Ornamental plantings and pathways from the park&#8217;s earliest decades.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Things_to_do_%E2%80%94_and_who_its_for\"><\/span>Things to do \u2014 and who it&#8217;s for<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Parents of toddlers<\/strong> \u2014 shallow water, shade and a playground steps apart.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cricket followers<\/strong> \u2014 league matches most summer weekends, free from the grass.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Garden lovers<\/strong> \u2014 the rock garden peaks in July and August, beds at full colour.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Students and remote workers<\/strong> \u2014 a lawn office minutes from SAIT and AUArts.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Picnickers and concert-goers<\/strong> \u2014 Kensington&#8217;s caf\u00e9s and bakeries are close.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Winter walkers<\/strong> \u2014 bare trees, quiet snow, the park almost to yourself.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Getting_there_practical\"><\/span>Getting there &amp; practical<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Riley Park lies in Hillhurst, on the north side of the Bow. The Red Line CTrain stop serving SAIT, AUArts and the Jubilee Auditorium is a few minutes&#8217; walk; the Sunnyside stop drops you in Kensington nearby, and buses pass the edges. Entry is free, as is watching a match. The park opens 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.; washrooms, fountains, pool and concession are summer-only. An hour suits a stroll; a cricket afternoon is another commitment.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_to_visit\"><\/span>When to visit<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Late spring wakes the flower beds and opens the cricket season, which runs from May. July and August are the peak \u2014 wading pool, evening concerts and gardens at full strength at once. September brings warm low light, the league&#8217;s closing matches and first colour in the old trees. Winter empties the place: bare branches, snow on the pitches, a quiet white bowl locals still cross daily.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Good_to_know\"><\/span>Good to know<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Thomas and Georgiana Riley arrived in the late 1880s with ten children and homesteaded on land that had been part of the Cochrane Ranch. The family built it into a substantial farm, and son Ezra subdivided the property in the early 1900s. After Thomas died in 1909 twenty acres passed to the city, becoming a public park in 1910. William Roland Reader, superintendent of parks from 1913 to 1942, added the wading pond in 1913, a toboggan run in 1914, a playground in 1917 and three cricket pitches in 1919. The league that began here in 1908 has grown from six teams to more than a hundred.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Visitor_tips\"><\/span>Visitor tips<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Check pool and pitch schedules before setting out; both are seasonal.<\/li>\n<li>Walk up to the rock garden first \u2014 set above the fields, it is easy to miss.<\/li>\n<li>Nearby parking fills quickly on match days and concert evenings; come by CTrain.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Questions_answers\"><\/span>Questions &amp; answers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Is Riley Park free to enter?<\/strong> Yes, and watching a cricket match costs nothing.<\/p>\n<p><strong>When is the wading pool open?<\/strong> Roughly mid-June into the fall, weather depending.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Can I play cricket there?<\/strong> Pitches are bookable through the city, though leagues hold most slots.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What is the rock garden?<\/strong> A memorial to Senator Patrick Burns, built from his demolished mansion&#8217;s flagstone.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Is it good for small children?<\/strong> Yes \u2014 playground, wading pool and flat lawns all together.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How do I get there by transit?<\/strong> Take the Red Line to the stop serving SAIT, then walk down.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\">\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"entity-gallery\" class=\"padrino-entity-gallery\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Photos\"><\/span>Photos<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.calgary-name.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2026\/08\/riley-park-calgary-1.jpg\" alt=\"Riley Park\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.calgary-name.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2026\/08\/riley-park-calgary-2.jpg\" alt=\"Riley Park\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.calgary-name.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2026\/08\/riley-park-calgary-3.jpg\" alt=\"Riley Park\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.calgary-name.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2026\/08\/riley-park-calgary-4.jpg\" alt=\"Riley Park\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.calgary-name.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2026\/08\/riley-park-calgary-5.jpg\" alt=\"Riley Park\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.calgary-name.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2026\/08\/riley-park-calgary-6.jpg\" alt=\"Riley Park\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<details>\n<summary>Show 1 more photos<\/summary>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.calgary-name.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2026\/08\/riley-park-calgary-7.jpg\" alt=\"Riley Park\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/details>\n<\/section>\n<div id=\"comments\" class=\"comments-area wp-block-group\">\n<h2 class=\"comments-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Visitor_reviews\"><\/span>Visitor reviews<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol class=\"comment-list\">\n<li id=\"comment-padrino-0\" class=\"comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1\">\n<article id=\"div-comment-padrino-0\" class=\"comment-body\">\n<footer class=\"comment-meta\">\n<div class=\"comment-author vcard\">\n<b class=\"fn\"><span>Bharat V<\/span><\/b>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"comment-metadata\">\n21 September 2024<br \/>\n \u00b7 <span>\u2605 10.0\/10<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<div class=\"comment-content\">\n<p>A great park near the city centre.<br \/>\nHas 2 cricket pitches, a wading pool, a playground and lots of picnic tables.<br \/>\nIn summer it&#039;s full of flower beds. A playground and a running track.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"comment-padrino-1\" class=\"comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1\">\n<article id=\"div-comment-padrino-1\" class=\"comment-body\">\n<footer class=\"comment-meta\">\n<div class=\"comment-author vcard\">\n<b class=\"fn\"><span>Bharat Shah<\/span><\/b>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"comment-metadata\">\n9 June 2023<br \/>\n \u00b7 <span>\u2605 10.0\/10<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<div class=\"comment-content\">\n<p>This is a nice park near the centre of Calgary. There are lots of trees, grassy areas, benches where you can enjoy shade or sun, as well as a paved path for walking, running or cycling.<br \/>\nThe park has a playground with ple\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"comment-padrino-2\" class=\"comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1\">\n<article id=\"div-comment-padrino-2\" class=\"comment-body\">\n<footer class=\"comment-meta\">\n<div class=\"comment-author vcard\">\n<b class=\"fn\"><span>Khaled Hasan<\/span><\/b>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"comment-metadata\">\n1 May 2023<br \/>\n \u00b7 <span>\u2605 10.0\/10<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<div class=\"comment-content\">\n<p>A nice and cozy park next to the DT shopping centre. There&#039;s lots of open space here to spend time with the family. In summer there&#039;s also a splash pad. The playground is decent too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"comment-padrino-3\" class=\"comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1\">\n<article id=\"div-comment-padrino-3\" class=\"comment-body\">\n<footer class=\"comment-meta\">\n<div class=\"comment-author vcard\">\n<b class=\"fn\"><span>RC<\/span><\/b>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"comment-metadata\">\n7 August 2022<br \/>\n \u00b7 <span>\u2605 10.0\/10<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<div class=\"comment-content\">\n<p>A smaller park not far from downtown in the northwest. It&#039;s perfect for families and anyone who wants to relax in the sun, but it&#039;s not big enough for cycling or hiking. It&#039;s quite pretty. There are flowers, a wading poo\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"comment-padrino-4\" class=\"comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1\">\n<article id=\"div-comment-padrino-4\" class=\"comment-body\">\n<footer class=\"comment-meta\">\n<div class=\"comment-author vcard\">\n<b class=\"fn\"><span>Lidiia Shastal<\/span><\/b>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"comment-metadata\">\n13 August 2023<br \/>\n \u00b7 <span>\u2605 8.1\/10<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<div class=\"comment-content\">\n<p>Overall, the park is very nice, beautiful trees, flower beds. The outdoor pool delighted the little ones, and I&#039;m thrilled with the huge green sports field. But the playground was disappointing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<p><small>Reviews last updated: 2026-08-04 15:53:39<\/small><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<p><small>Data is refreshed monthly. Sources: calgary-name.com and editorial picks based on reviews.<\/small><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u2190 TOP Park \u00b7 Calgary \u00b7 \u2b50 9.3\/10 \u00b7 2229 reviews \u00b7 updated: 2026-08-04 15:53:39 Address: 800 12 St NW, Calgary, AB T2N 0S2, \u041a\u0430\u043d\u0430\u0434\u0430 Call Get directions Riley Park \u2014 cricket, a wading pool and a rock garden in Hillhurst Nine hectares of lawn, mature trees and flower beds between Kensington and the SAIT [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":582,"featured_media":5240,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4126],"tags":[],"moimportance":[],"motype":[],"moformat":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-5364","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-parks"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5364","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/582"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5364"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5364\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5832,"href":"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5364\/revisions\/5832"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5240"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5364"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5364"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5364"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=5364"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=5364"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/calgary-name.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=5364"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}