Lake Bonavista Community Overview
Lake Bonavista is a neighbourhood in Southeast Calgary, Alberta. It is bounded by Anderson Road to the North, Macleod Trail to the West, Canyon Meadows Drive to the South, and Bow Bottom Trail to the East. The small community of Bonavista Downs resides in the north-east corner of the neighbourhood.
Lake Bonavista was developed by the Keith Construction company starting in 1967. It was the first community in Canada to be built around a man made lake, and served as a prototype for other "Lake Communities" in Calgary.
Lake Bonavista Promenade is a small commercial development within Lake Bonavista that includes both retail space and professional offices. There is also convenient access to shopping areas along Macleod Trail and in Southcentre Mall.
Fish Creek Park borders the community to the south, and provides a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities.
The Lake Bonavista Community Association (not to be confused with the homeowners association which maintains the lake) owns a community centre within the district. The community centre includes two ice rinks, a gym, and a variety of multipurpose rooms.
There is also a City of Calgary ice rink, Frank McCool Arena, within the community.
The area was originally flat treeless prairie with no distinctive natural features. In order to make the area more attractive Lake Bonavista, a 52-acre (210,000 m2) man made lake, was constructed in 1968, with a portion of the earth excavated from the lake used to construct a 65-foot (20 m) hill with a waterfall adjacent to the lake. The lake and adjacent park provide a variety of year round recreational opportunities for residents, including fishing, swimming, boating, tennis, skating, and tobogganing. The Lake Bonavista Home Owners Association, membership in which is mandatory for homeowners in the area, provides the upkeep of the lake and park.
The neighbourhood also contains a second manmade lake, Lake Bonaventure. This 35-acre (140,000 m2) lake is only accessible by houses built directly around the lake itself. Homeowners with access to Lake Bonaventure must pay their share of the upkeep on both Lake Bonavista and Lake Bonaventure.
Bonavista Downs residents share many of the amenities with Lake Bonavista, but they do not have access to the lakes and do not need to pay for their upkeep.
Lake Bonavista is home to the following schools:
- Lake Bonavista, Public Elementary
- Andrew Sibbald, Public Elementary
- Sam Livingston, Public Elementary
- Nickle, Public Junior High
- St. Boniface, Catholic Elementary
- St. Bonaventure, Catholic Junior High
Neighboring Communities
Southwood
Canyon Meadows
Willow Park
Parkland
Deer Ridge
Queensland
Maple Ridge
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