Calgary Attractions
Olympic Plaza
When Calgary hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics, this downtown square was where athletes received their medals. The plaza covers about 1.3 hectares on 7 Avenue SE at Macleod Trail, right next to Historic City Hall, and it's still paved with commemorative bricks that Calgarians bought for it. You can look up a brick with the City's Olympic Brick Finder.
- Operated by
- City of Calgary Parks
- Community
- Downtown Commercial Core
- Size
- About 1.3 hectares
- Park type
- City regional park
What's Happening Now
The plaza has been closed since January 2025, and CMLC broke ground on the redesign in May 2026, working with The City and Werklund Centre. Construction is expected to wrap up in 2028. The new plaza is planned to have:
- Room for markets, programs and events of up to 5,000 people
- A splash pad and water feature in summer that becomes a skating rink in winter
- A pavilion with food and drink and public washrooms
- A green space along the north edge
Right beside it, the Werklund Centre expansion will add two new theatres: a 1,000-seat theatre and a 200-seat studio.
Getting Around in the Meantime
For a washroom, use the Municipal Complex atrium across Macleod Trail. For skating, try the Prince's Island Park lagoon or Barb Scott Park.
What's Close By
Werklund Centre (formerly Arts Commons), Historic City Hall and the Municipal Building are all on the doorstep. The Glenbow plans to reopen in 2027 as the JR Shaw Centre for Arts & Culture. City Hall/Bow Valley College station, on the Red and Blue lines, is next to the plaza, and the Central Library and National Music Centre are a few blocks east.
Downtown Living
If you're thinking about a downtown condo, the Downtown Commercial Core, East Village and the Beltline are all within walking distance.
Communities around Olympic Plaza
The residential communities closest to it.