The decade-long slow pitch to develop new ball diamonds and other amenities at the proposed Horse Creek Sports Park is getting closer to its mark.
Cochrane council unanimously approved design plans for the project, allowing detailed design work to continue ahead of construction in 2026.
“This is an important milestone in delivering a high-quality, multi-use sports facility that meets Cochrane’s growing recreational needs,” said Michelle Delorme, the town’s director of Parks and Active Living. “This year’s focus is on foundational work—preparing the site, completing servicing, and aligning with the Rocky View Schools development and Range Road 262 road construction. All this work was just approved through the borrowing bylaw, setting the stage for timely construction and efficient sequencing.”
While a long-term vision for the park has been laid out in phase one—including six diamonds, multi-use courts, outdoor rinks, a flex lawn, and a clubhouse—only a portion of the phase (stage one) is moving forward for detailed design and capital consideration.
“Stage one was selected as the logical starting point due to high community demand for diamonds and alignment with servicing infrastructure already underway,” Delorme said. “This stage includes the quad diamonds, a portion of the parking lot, and a washroom facility.”
With funding secured for the detailed design in stage one, Delorme said a fully costed capital request can be presented to council this fall.
When asked for the projected cost, she said consultants have provided a high-level estimate of $10 million.
“This design work will help us get the correct costing,” she told council. “Without going into detailed design, we can’t give an accurate number.”
Though stage one includes washrooms, pathways, parking, and four diamonds, only three are expected to be completed initially. The fourth is delayed due to the discovery of woodpecker nests on site.
“We need approval from the minister’s office to move forward with construction of that diamond,” Delorme said. “We’re hoping for more information soon, but pricing includes all four diamonds.”
Certain user groups have highlighted the need for new baseball infrastructure in town. Delorme said prioritizing the quad diamonds would meet that demand, while also serving the slow-pitch and softball communities.
“All of these quad diamonds are sized at 350 feet, so they meet both baseball and softball requirements,” she said. “We’ve met with all the user groups, and they’re quite happy with the sizing. The only difference is the mounds and infields, but they can still play.”
The approval follows council’s recent vote in favour of a borrowing bylaw to fund the initial $11.43 million investment in servicing, design, and planning for the park.
“We know this is important for our community, so we’re taking this step,” said Mayor Jeff Genung. “We’ve had a parade of outdoor rec user groups asking for more space, and this is the most affordable way to move forward.”
The loan will be repaid over 20 years and is part of a broader agreement with Rocky View Schools to accommodate a future high school next to the park.
