Important Update: Future of WRMA and the City of Calgary’s Development Plans

Dear Members and Riders, 

We have some important news regarding the future of Wild Rose Motocross Park (WRMA). As you may soon see in local media, the City of Calgary has officially announced that it intends to proceed with the re-development of the Park (Burbank Road) and Highfield Farms (Highfield Crescent Site) for public transit infrastructure. While the City has not indicated when these changes will take effect, they have suggested that the planning timeline will be 12-15 months. They have renegotiated a 5-year lease with us that has a significant eviction notice that cannot be triggered for 14 months. The park will continue to operate at full capacity through at least the 2026 season, with the potential for an extended timeline beyond that. We will continue to work closely with the City of Calgary to determine next steps. 

Link to learn more: https://newsroom.calgary.ca/building-for-future-transit-south-central-bus-garage/

Read below:

Building for future transit: South Central Bus Garage

The City of Calgary is announcing plans to build a new South Central Bus Garage in the community of Alyth/Bonnybrook/Manchester.

Calgary Transit has identified several factors that impact bus service which require infrastructure changes to meet the needs of a rapidly growing city. These changes include modernization of Calgary’s bus fleet, increasing storage, expanding service levels to meet increased demand, and planned decommissioning of the Victoria Park Garage.

Over the next 30 years, The City’s population is expected to increase by nearly half a million people, significantly raising the demand for efficient and sustainable transit services. The new South Central Bus Garage will have room to double the capacity of the current Victoria Park Garage over time, increasing bus maintenance and storage capacity in central Calgary, to support the many buses that travel in and out of downtown.

“A new South Central Bus Garage will replace the Victoria Park Garage, increasing bus maintenance and storage capacity to support the transit needs of Calgarians for years to come,” says Sheikh Hossain, Leader with Facility Planning.

The new South Central Bus Garage will be built on two existing parcels of City-owned land. The Burbank Road site is a 74-acre parcel, located east of Blackfoot Trail, west of 11th Street, divided by the proposed 50th Avenue S.E. Extension right-of-way. The Highfield Crescent site is a 17.4-acre parcel located just east of 11 Street S.E., south of Highfield Crescent S.E., also divided by the proposed 50 Avenue S.E. Extension.

These two parcels of land were selected because they are centrally located, City-owned sites, potentially large enough to accommodate the size of the SC Bus Garage development. The plan for Rivers District redevelopment is also one of the drivers for the project. No other sites had adequate access, suitable size, or appropriate zoning for a new bus maintenance and storage facility.

Leaseholder considerations

Both City-owned sites involve land currently leased out to community organizations. The City reached out to directly-affected leaseholders in March 2025, to provide advance notice of its plans for these sites. The City will continue to communicate with impacted leaseholders to inform their site transitions and future business operations.

How leasing works at The City

The City aims to put land designated for future projects to good use. These interim-use spaces provide opportunities for recreation, education, environmental initiatives and cultural activities while ensuring the land remains available for important city needs when the time comes.

Many lands are leased for temporary use by non-profits, businesses, and other groups, allowing them to serve a community purpose before they are needed for City projects.​

The City strives to ensure tenants understand that the land will transition to its intended or alternate use. Lease terms are written with the understanding that use of the land is temporary and will eventually come to an end. ​The leasing and property management team tries to provide tenants with as much notice as possible before this happens.

Next steps

The South Central Bus Garage project is now entering the Master Planning stage, which will take approximately 12-15 months. This stage will develop more detailed concepts, technical requirements, and updated cost estimates for the future South Central Bus Garage.

From WRMA:

We are extremely disappointed that the City of Calgary has shortlisted the WRMA as the site to be further evaluated for public transit infrastructure development. WRMA is a one-of-a-kind facility—not just in Calgary, but in the world. It is irreplaceable. 

WRMA as Calgary’s only off-road riding facility—a facility that has existed for decades, serving riders of all levels in a controlled, safe, and organized environment. Eliminating this space would be a devastating loss, not only to the motocross and off-road community but to the broader sport and recreation landscape in Calgary. 

Did You Know: In 2023 the WRMA’s Economic Impact in Calgary was $7.1 million, $8 million in the province of Alberta, and $10.1 million nationwide.

We hope that the City will recognize the significance of WRMA and continue to work with us to find a solution—one that does not leave off-road riders without a place to go. Our community deserves better. 

We are calling on all stakeholders, from our members to City officials, to continue to engage with us in this critical fight for the future of off-road riding in Calgary.

What This Means for WRMA:
The City has confirmed that both the Park and the adjacent Highfield Crescent site will be required for transit infrastructure, meaning, if the City’s plan proceeds, WRMA will eventually need to fully vacate the land.While this could be a significant loss for our community, we are grateful for the advanced notice and the opportunity to work toward a solution.We are actively working to determine next steps and will continue engaging closely with the City to advocate for the future of off-road riding in Calgary.
We Know This is a Huge BlowWRMA’s Park is more than just a track—it’s a world-renowned motocross facility, a home for grassroots motorsports, and a hub for family, friends, and businesses that rely on the riding community. This decision could affect not just our riders, but also local bike shops, mechanics, and the many small businesses that support the sport.While we understand this news will spark strong emotions, we want to stress the importance of remaining respectful and professional as we move forward.
Opportunities – and Hope!
This project is not yet funded and it will be expensive.  There is a chance funding for this project is delayed, giving us more time at the park.The City of Calgary has been very cooperative and accommodating in supporting us staying on the land for as long as possible. We will continue to work with them to find a solution. The Save the Park Committee is fully engaged in looking for a new park.  We have some potentially positive leads that we are actively working on. We will share more information on this topic as soon as we can.The City is looking for another parcel of land to ride on with in the City limits.  However, they have acknowledged this will be challenging.
So, What’s Next?
We know you have questions, and we promise to keep you informed every step of the way. In the coming weeks and months, we will continue to provide updates and evaluate all possible solutions. We appreciate your support, passion, and dedication to WRMA. While this is difficult news, we are committed to fighting for the future of off-road riding in Calgary. Thank you for standing with us.
What Can You Do:✔ Ride!! The more memberships and day fees, the better.✔ Tell your friends and family to ride! ✔ Buy a membership ✔ Donate to the park (if you can)✔ Plan to attend the Super Series and bring your friends and family!
Resources to Help Guide Conversations
We know many of you will be having conversations with fellow riders, community members, and local businesses about this situation. To help guide these discussions, we have compiled key messages outlining the financial contributions of WRMA to Calgary and beyond. For a detailed list of key messages, please click the button below. 
Key Messages 
Friendly Reminder About Social Media:It is absolutely critical that we conduct ourselves with professionalism in all discussions, both online and in person. Our ability to engage productively with the City depends on how we present ourselves. Please keep in mind:
✔ Be respectful in all social media posts and comments. Negative or inflammatory remarks could hurt our efforts to negotiate for a future riding space.
✔ Misinformation can spread quickly. If you have questions, please reach out directly to WRMA instead of speculating online.
✔ We are in this together
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. 
Sincerely, The WRMA Board of Directors & Save the Park Committee