A new park has opened in Calgary's Beltline district, with a design inspired by the site's history of lawn bowling.

The Thomson Family Park, revamped thanks to a $2-million donation, is on 16 Avenue between 11 and 12 Streets S.W.

Members of the Thomson family attended the opening ceremony Friday, along with Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Coun. Evan Woolley.

The overhead lighting on the lawn bowling green was refurbished and kept. (Mike Symington/CBC)

"Park space is so needed in high density areas like this," said Woolley in a press release. "Green spaces create a sense of vibrancy and an engaged community."

The park includes a playground, picnic tables, winter skating area and a lookout viewpoint.

In a nod to the site's past, the curve of the pathway mimics the movement of a thrown lawn bowl, the original overhead lighting above the greens has been preserved and the lookout pavilion has rounded edges to look from the air like a lawn bowl.

The lawn bowling club has moved to a site in Spruce Cliff.

The Thomson family has said the donation is their way of saying thanks to the community that they have been part of for generations.

Joan and John Thomson were married at the Grace Presbyterian Church just two blocks from the park.