Winter uses of city golf courses debated

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This article was published 06/04/2023 (953 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

To use its golf courses to their full potential, the City of Winnipeg must devote more attention to the winter use of the green spaces, according to several residents.

One delegate at Thursday’s property and development committee meeting complained a pair of reports on “golf repurposing” minimizes the potential of cross country-skiing and other winter activities.

“It’s astounding to me that you could have such a tiny mention of cross-country skiing when the reality is longstanding and significant,” said Laurie Penton, general manager of the Windsor Park Nordic Centre, a cross-country ski facility at Windsor Park Golf Course.

The reports from HTFC Planning and Design offer dozens of site-specific ideas that could be added at 11 city-owned golf courses, suggesting new community gardens, naturalized areas, more trees, new sports areas and Indigenous acknowledgements.

While the documents note an “opportunity” to expand recreation uses that occur outside golf season at several courses, Penton said the study falls short of fully acknowledging a winter activity many Winnipeggers have embraced.

The city could attract tourists by linking ski trails together and create large winter festivals in the future, Penton told the committee.

“There’s just incredible opportunity to highlight the fabulous winter activities that Winnipeg should be famous for (as) a winter city.”

Anders Swanson, executive director of the Winnipeg Trails Association, said adding a “winter lens” to consider golf course options would help the city make the best possible use of its land year-round.

“There’s a huge potential to create cross-country ski regional networks and some of them (would) take, in part, large sections of golf courses,” said Swanson, whose organization maintains cross-country ski trails.

Other delegates expressed concern that shifting the uses of golf courses could take up ski trail space.

Coun. Sherri Rollins, chairwoman of the property and development committee, said city officials do recognize the popularity of skiing and other winter sports.

“I know that the golf courses are absolutely used as an expression of Winnipeg’s winter city activities, cross-country skiing, walking, snowshoeing and more,” said Rollins.

Her committee received the golf reports as information Thursday, which means the city will take no immediate action on the ideas.

However, Rollins said she will consult with winter sports enthusiasts and Indigenous governments on the best ways to move forward.

While she expects some changes may need to wait for funding through the city’s 2024-27 multiyear budget process, Rollins said some initial ideas to add to golf courses could be pursued earlier, such as options to better acknowledge Indigenous history and plant more trees.

Rollins said much golf course land has a rich and extended Indigenous history, which requires more attention. For example, the report notes the Kildonan Golf Course area long-served as a meeting point and ceremonial site for Indigenous people.

Meanwhile, Winnipeg’s general manager of golf services urged the committee to ensure course changes don’t limit access to golf, which has surged in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There (are) record revenues, participation numbers are at an all-time high… The report has some nice elements to it that we certainly support. But, at the end of the day, we’re at a moment in time right now where I think it makes sense that golf continue to be the main form of recreation on these properties,” said Ben Fey.

The consultant also suggested the city consider leasing or selling John Blumberg Golf Course, a 200-acre property in the Rural Municipality of Headingley. Advocates have long-lobbied against such a sale, arguing it would cost the city valuable green space.

However, a city official told the property committee the idea of transferring Blumberg’s ownership to the RM was meant as a potential partnership that would still preserve green space.

“The one suggestion in the report of selling to the RM wasn’t intended to reduce green spaces. That was more of… a suggestion of partnership (on) shared goals,” said Gord Chappell, Winnipeg acting manager of real estate and land development.

Rollins said she doesn’t support selling or leasing Blumberg.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga