Olympic Plaza (Calgary)
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The Olympic Plaza is an urban park and gathering place in downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Located around Macleod Trail and 7 Avenue South, it was created as the venue for the medal ceremonies at the 1988 Winter Olympics.[1] In 2004, over 30,000 people packed the plaza to celebrate the Calgary Flames' run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals.[2]
Olympic Plaza serves as a meeting place, and an outdoor event area, hosting concerts and festivals. In the winter, it is used as a public ice skating area.[3] The plaza is accessible by Calgary's CTrain system at the City Hall station.[3]
Due to its location, directly across from Calgary City Hall and at the head of major pedestrian thoroughfare Stephen Avenue, the plaza is often the site of protests.[4][5][6] The plaza has raised concerns with residents due to the large concentration of the homeless around the plaza, as well as a significant increase in violent crime and opioid overdoses.[7]
Olympic Plaza Cultural District Engagement & Design Report (October 2016) [8]
The Olympic Plaza Cultural District (OPCD) in Calgary, Canada, celebrates the city's legacy as an Olympic host and serves as an essential public gathering space. As the district approached its 30th anniversary, the City of Calgary initiated a review and redesign of the OPCD to reimagine its future. This initiative followed the Civic District Public Realm Strategy approved by Calgary City Council in early 2016, emphasizing the importance of Olympic Plaza and its surrounding areas within the city's public realm.