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A number of neighbourhood parks and playgrounds in Saskatoon will be getting a fresh new look this year.
The City of Saskatoon said in a news release on June 26 that the improvements would be made as part of the city’s Park Upgrade Program to address any deficiencies and bring them up to current standards.
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The city said that upgrades may include new or improved pathways, lighting, upgraded irrigation and drainage systems, tree planting and naturalized landscaping, as well as other amenities such as benches, picnic tables and play structures.
Parks scheduled for upgrades in 2025 include:
A food forest demonstration site is included in the upgrades for Broughton Park. (City of Saskatoon)
Boughton Park
Plans for the park in the Holiday Park neighbourhood include a food forest demonstration site, tree plantings, pollinator gardens, irrigation improvements, a new play structure, pathways, site furniture and educational signs.
Plans for Forest Grove Linkage. (City of Saskatoon)
Forest Grove Linkage
Plans for the park include upgraded asphalt pathways, a new irrigation system, updated site furniture and enhanced plantings.
Upgrades for Herbert Stewart Park in Sutherland. (City of Saskatoon)
Herbert Stewart Park
Herbert Stewart Park in Sutherland will be getting a new playground, upgraded pathways and lighting, new site furniture and enhanced plantings.
Upgrades for Kistikan Park in Eastview. (City of Saskatoon)
Kistikan Park
There will be widened asphalt pathways for Kistikan Park in Eastview, as well as additional LED pathway lighting, new site furniture, a new play structure, more trees and shrubs, a new irrigation system and the outdoor rink will be replaced with a basketball court. A future community garden space is also included.
A plan of the proposed Lief Erickson Park upgrades. (City of Saskatoon)
Leif Erickson Park
The park in Westmount will be getting upgrades that include a food forest demonstration site, irrigation system improvements and naturalized plantings, as well as new pathways, site furniture and educational signs.
Marriott Park upgrade plans. (City of Saskatoon)
Marriott Park
North Park’s Marriott Park’s planned improvements include upgraded pathways, a new irrigation system and site furniture, as well as a new play structure.
Other park playgrounds scheduled for upgrades in 2025 include Szumagalski Park in the Kelsey-Woodlawn neighborhood, Lt GG Simmonds Park in the Montgomery Placecommunity and Idylwyld Park in Nutana.
The city said that funding from the Government of Canada’s Natural Infrastructure Fund is supporting the installation of new playgrounds at Marriott and Boughton parks, as well as the development of food forest demonstration sites and improvements to irrigation and naturalization at both Boughton and Leif Erickson parks.
The Dundonald solar farm project is situated on 14 acres of land that is located east of Dundonald Avenue and south of 11th Street West. (City of Saskatoon)
Federal funds to toward natural infrastructure
Saskatoon was one of six major cities to receive funding of up to $20 million from the fund to support the implementation of the city’s Green Network Project, and the city said development of natural infrastructure activities across Saskatoon will have a total value of over $34 million.
The city says this funding provides a significant opportunity to advance the City’s Green Infrastructure Strategy implementation plan, Pathways for an Integrated Green Network, and its vision for an interconnected green network to improve access to nature for the community.
Projects include prairie restoration and accessibility in the Meewasin Valley, kīwētin Greenway landscaping in Aspen Ridge as well as development of a linear park and drainage channel in the neighbourhood.
Also tagged for improvements is the naturalization of land between Aspen Ridge and U of S Kernen Prairie Conservation Research Lands, naturalization of a storm pond and linear park in Kensington an naturalization of a municipal reserve and storm pond in Brighton.
Funds will also be put toward the naturalization of the Dundonald Avenue Solar Farm site, drainage improvements and naturalized plantings in the CN industrial area (Cartwright Pond and culvert, a naturalized retention pond at the Regional Fire Training Facility, enhancements of streetscapes and rights-of-way with tree planting, vegetation and pedestrian improvements, streetscape improvements between Idylwyld Drive and 2nd Avenue).
The city said it will work with Indigenous rightsholders and communities to explore opportunities for developing Indigenous ceremonial spaces as well.
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