This article is part of the 2018 list of Calgary’s Best Neighbourhoods. For the 2019 list, go here.
Environmental psychologists don’t know exactly why proximity to water, including urban water features, is good for our physical and mental health – they just know it is. So it should surprise no one that one of the city’s lake communities ranked as the second-most-desirable neighbourhood in Calgary.
Arbour Lake, whose namesake lake is both the geographic and recreational hub of the community, offers residents swimming, boating and fishing in the summer, and ice skating, curling and ice fishing in the winter. On sunny days the beach is a hive of family fun, with children making sandcastles while teens play beach volleyball, parents prepare picnics and seniors stroll the lakefront pathway.
Arbour Lake’s “blue space” gets much of the attention, but the community also has enviable access to green space. A bike-and walking-trail network winds through the rolling hills and ravines, affording sweeping views of the Rockies to the west.
But it’s not all play at this northwest community. People have to get to work, too, and Arbour Lake’s proximity to major routes such as Crowchild Trail, Stoney Trail and John Laurie Boulevard as well as its Transit Score, thanks to the nearby Crowfoot CTrain station, are significant factors in its high ranking. Having
a grocery store or specialty market in the neighbourhood is another highly prized attribute to survey respondents and Arbour Lake has them in abundance, from a Safeway and a Co-op to Amaranth Whole Foods Market.
While much of what recommends Arbour Lake is outdoor-focused, there are also abundant opportunities for indoor fun, including a movie theatre, the Melcor YMCA at Crowfoot, Schanks Sports Grill and The Spa Ritual if you just need to unwind.
Arbour Lake By the Numbers
Ranking: 2/185
2017 population: 10,713 Population growth rate since 2015: -0.02%
Walk Score: 46 Transit Score: 43
Recreation facility points: 87 Engagement ranking: 7/185
Median assessment value: $449,000