The Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) is celebrating a major milestone in strengthening community infrastructure and enhancing accessibility: the Canadian Parks, Recreation and Sport Infrastructure Database has officially surpassed 10,000 mapped sites across the country.
Developed in partnership with data intelligence leader ActiveXchange, the database is the most comprehensive tool of its kind in the country. The database captures detailed information on sport, recreation, and parks facilities in communities of every size – from municipal arenas and pools to trails, parks, and multi-use fields – helping local governments, community groups, and other sector professionals plan smarter, advocate stronger, and build better.
Reaching 10,000 sites is more than just a number - it’s a clear signal that our sector is embracing data as a vital tool for decision-making. This resource is already supporting critical conversations about infrastructure renewal, equitable access, and long-term resilience. And it’s only getting stronger with every contribution.
Used by municipalities, provinces and territories, and sector partners, the database plays a key role in everything from infrastructure planning, refurbishments, and development to community programming and services.
In Arnprior, Ontario, for example, local staff used the database to visualize gaps in facility access for youth. That insight is now guiding the city’s long-term recreation master plan and supporting stronger business cases for future capital investments. Further, in Cranbrook, British Columbia, local planners leveraged the database to map and benchmark their recreation landscape and used per-capita and movement data to demonstrate that their infrastructure outpaces similar-sized communities. This finding lends towards proposed upgrades to accessibility and youth-oriented facilities and programming.
We built this tool to ensure that good decisions are backed by good data. The fact that 10,000 sites have been mapped - many in rural and remote areas - shows the real appetite for evidence-based planning. We’re proud to partner with CPRA on this national effort.
The database is making it easier for communities across the country to advocate for the infrastructure and programming they need. As we face growing challenges across the country - from aging infrastructure and workforce readiness to climate-related disruptions and emergency preparedness and crisis response - having a clear picture of what exists and where the gaps are has never been more important.
Call to Action
CPRA invites all sector leaders, including municipalities, provinces and territories, Indigenous communities, local recreation leaders, and advocates to explore the database and contribute their infrastructure data. Every addition strengthens the tool and the sector’s ability to make informed, strategic decisions.
