In 1952 the Calgary Board of Education opened the 15-room spacious, modern and bright Parkdale Elementary School in 1952. It was the "largest of four schools opened by the Calgary School Board that year." In a Calgary Herald October 6, 1952 article, Parkdale was described as being located "on the Western outskirts of Calgary" in "one of the new and rapidly populating districts of Calgary." Along with the new school, city planners land use development in the 1950s also included the Parkdale Crescent for local businesses and recreational green space (in what is now the Parkdale Community Association complex where the Parkdale Community Garden and Gathering Place is located).