New communities are sprouting all over Calgary these days. A casual drive down the ring road will show numerous signs of several upcoming residential neighbourhoods in the periphery.

These new communities are, for the most part, where buyers can find the most affordable new homes, but moving in and living in them may present a bit of an adjustment, especially if one is coming from a more established community.

New communities can sometimes feel empty – no trees, limited nearby commercial establishments nearby – and that is why many of Calgary’s land developers take pains in bringing as much in-community amenities as they can in the first phases of the development.

Many, includingQualico Communitiesand Rohit Communities, have ponds, and playgrounds, and pathways ready for their residents to enjoy as soon as they move in.

Both believe that communities with a sense of connection to nature, a connection between neighbours, a connection to the world around it spell success for all who live in them.

Importance of amenities

According to Nolan Frese, Rohit Communities’ Senior Project Manager for Heartland and Heartwood, in-community amenities play an important role in today’s residential developments, as it can serve as the cornerstone of a neighborhood’s identity, and provide a look and feel of what ultimately sells.

“For example, in Heartwood we included custom street blades, detailed landscape design, consistent cleanliness, and attention to detail to create that impact. Additionally, age-specific playgrounds designed for both immediate and long-term use, color palettes of playground structures that match the community theme, and the installation of unique spaces not only address what homebuyers are looking for but also serve as powerful differentiators as buyers are looking for more than just a house, they want a complete lifestyle right in their neighborhood.”

Monica Bilyk, Marketing Manager at Qualico Communities Calgary agrees. “In-community amenities enhance desirability, add value, improve satisfaction, and contribute to the overall success of a development. They can set a community apart from the others and be key selling features used to attract buyers. They can also enhance the quality of life for its residents and promote community building. Today’s buyers live busy lifestyles and appreciate having things closer to home,” she points out.

Fostering neighbourliness

In-community amenities provide shared experiences for neighbours and are, in fact, crucial in fostering tighter bonds within the community.

“Parks, playgrounds, pathways, and sports courts are great amenities to have in a community as they encourage active lifestyles and social interaction,” Bilyk says. “Parks and green spaces provide gathering spaces for families and also help beautify the community, allowing residents to enjoy their time outdoors that much more.”

Frese adds that gathering spaces in the community foster social connections, where neighbors get to know each other. “Activity-based areas—including playgrounds, sports courts, and open greenspaces encourage healthy lifestyles and shared interests. In Heartland, we love seeing the Heartland Community Association hosting their various events in our parks to bring neighbors together.”

Life in a new community

When purchasing a home in a new community, there are several things prospective buyers should keep in mind. Living in a new community does sometimes come with temporary inconveniences like construction noise, traffic, and dust. The lack of trees in new communities is also often cited as a drawback, but many of these concerns are ultimately temporary inconveniences that are resolved in time. Commercial amenities are usually limited in these young neighbourhoods too.

“Qualico Communities works hard to mitigate construction-related inconveniences by providing weekly street cleaning in the Spring, Summer, and Fall months, using water trucks to keep dust down, and ensuring builders adhere to noise bylaws,” Bilyk says.

Frese says Rohit works closely with builder groups to ensure construction sites are kept clean and orderly, with regular street sweeping implemented to minimize construction-related disruption.

Getting a leafy canopy over streets takes a longer time to accomplish, but developers do design their communities to eventually have the tree-lined streets that are characterize suburban living.

“Newly planted trees are typically smaller initially, which is often a municipal requirement,” Bilyk says. “But they mature over time.”

Qualico Communities Calgary plants a variety of tree species on boulevards and medians within new communities. “We also provide each household with a $500 voucher through our Tree Program. This program allows homeowners the flexibility to beautify their outdoor space to their preference, but also requires that at least one tree be included in the purchase.”

Commercial amenities depend on the land use designation, Frese says, and not every community includes commercial space. “Most commercial development requires substantial residential completion before construction begins. By managing these expectations upfront, Rohit helps buyers understand the development timeline of their community and envision its future state once development is complete.”

Qualico Communities Calgary

Qualico Communities is one of the biggest developers in Alberta with 12 current developments in the Calgary area alone. The developer has always believed in having amenities already in place in their communities even before the first residents come in. Chief among these are the playgrounds.

In their brand-new community of Southbow Landing in Cochrane, Qualico is taking advantage of the spectacular mountain views for the location of its community playground, a key amenity to prime interest and growth in this young community.

“Given the community’s connection to nature, our parks/playgrounds will incorporate a colour scheme that reflects Alberta’s vibrant wildflowers” Bilyk says.

While for Vermillion Hill in Calgary’s southwest, Qualico has incorporated a double hill slide into the changing grade of the site. The playground, which opened in late Fall 2024, also includes bridges, platforms and many climbing features.

The community of Harmony, which Qualico jointly develops with Bordeaux Developments, may be the best example yet of how amenities can shape the identity of the community. It’s 140-acre lake is, of course, its most distinguishing feature, but the Adventure Park playground is a big hit with children and parents too. No wonder it has won Calgary Region’s Community of the Year award by the BILD Calgary Region eight times now.

For more information on Qualico’s communities, visit qualicocommunitiescalgary.com

Rohit Communities

Rohit Communities has a long history of developing many of Alberta’s best loved communities and in their latest developments in the Calgary region – Heartland in Cochrane and Heartwood in the southeast - they are making sure that amenities, including playgrounds, are prioritized as they are essential building blocks for the neighbourhood’s character.

Rohit Division Marketing Manager, Daisy Lieu, says the developer believes playgrounds foster a sense of community, providing a gathering space for families and promotes social interactions and neighbourly bonding.

“Rohit takes a comprehensive approach to amenity planning by focusing on dedicating appropriate space allocation for various amenities, creating welcoming environments through thoughtful landscaping and design, and looking at demographic studies to determine residents’ needs and preferences,” she says. “For example, in Heartland, we maintain regular communication with the Community Association to better understand what residents need and to keep them informed about our future development plans. In our parks we incorporate shade elements for comfort in outdoor spaces, design for family gatherings, and include specialized amenities like off-leash dog parks.” Get more information on Rohit Communities at rohitgroup.com/rohit-communities/