Greystone Pickleball Courts Grand Opening: On Saturday, June 7, the Town of Cochrane celebrated the grand opening of the new Greystone Pickleball Courts. The 20-court facility is part of a larger 10-acre regional park located in the Greystone neighborhood. Hundreds of residents gathered for the ribbon-cutting, marking a big moment for both the sport and the town.
From Gravel Pit to Community Landmark
Greystone is built on land that once operated as a gravel pit for over 50 years. Now, it’s a vibrant mixed-use development with homes, businesses, and new recreation areas.
“Greystone was an old gravel pit, and really a brown field, that we had really as an opportunity to be able to develop something special, Council asked developers to raise the bar down here, and not just put in more housing. We don’t need more housing, housing, housing– we have enough of that on the go in Cochrane. So it has a little bit of housing to buffer the west from Riverview, but the rest are things like this: Twenty pickleball courts, two ball diamonds, basketball, the Jefferson Plaza, Calgary Co-op, and a future hotel. All things that are going to add to our community.”-(Mayor Jeff Genung)
Some people had doubts when the plan was first introduced. But those doubts faded as the project came to life.
“Look what happens when we all work together? As a council, we took criticism for having ‘traffic circles to nowhere.’ Well now, it’s somewhere.”-( Jeff Genung)
Community Effort Behind the Project
Burnswest Properties Ltd, the developer of Greystone, played a big role in creating the park and new courts. They worked closely with the Town of Cochrane and received funding from the Government of Alberta.
“It has been the culmination of a lot of effort for a lot of people.”-(Burnswest Vice President of Development Josh Hagen)
“One of the themes today during the speeches was partnerships and collaboration … I think this big 10 acre regional park speaks for itself. Just amazing quality and so many different activities … It’s really going to be a place for people to gather and enjoy the beautiful summers we have.”-(Josh Hagen)
The Greystone Pickleball Courts are now open to the public and are expected to be used often by both serious players and newcomers.
“It’s long-awaited, highly anticipated, talked about for years, and finally the day is here, You could tell by the buzz in the air, and how many people are rushing onto the courts, they are going to be well-used. It’s just such an exciting day.”-( Jeff Genung)
Pickleball Club Sees Major Upgrade
The Cochrane Pickleball Club has waited years for more space to play. Until now, they had just four courts to serve nearly 300 players. That changed with the Greystone facility.
“We have been trying to fit close to 300 people on four courts over at the Quigley (Courts) here.” -(Cochrane Pickleball Club President Greg Young)
“With the announcement of these 20 new courts … it’s just a world class facility, and we are proud to have the first ever wheelchair accessible courts in all of Alberta. So we are really proud and appreciative of (Burnswest) for putting it all together.”-(Greg Young)
As soon as the ribbon was cut, club members ran onto the courts, filled with excitement. Community members cheered loudly, celebrating the opening of a long-awaited space.
Looking Ahead
The opening of the Greystone Pickleball Courts marks a major step in Cochrane’s growth. It shows how teamwork between developers, the town, and local groups can bring real benefits. With more places to play and gather, the town is set to enjoy an even stronger sense of community in the years to come.
News in Brief: Greystone Pickleball Courts Grand Opening
Cochrane opened its new 20-court Greystone Pickleball facility on June 7. Built on land once used as a gravel pit, it’s now part of a 10-acre park. Hundreds attended the ribbon-cutting, with support from Mayor Jeff Genung, Burnswest Properties Ltd, and the Cochrane Pickleball Club.