Renewing St. Vital Park

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This article was published 27/04/2022 (398 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Growing up in the Pulberry area, I took St. Vital Park for granted. I didn’t appreciate the fact that not every neighbourhood has access to a large, natural green space. I now realize how important the park has been for me as a child, as a runner, and as a parent. I am very proud of the many improvements that have been made in the park over the past 12 years.

The first two projects — a modernization of the boat launch and resodding of the soccer field, were started by my predecessor, Coun. Gord Steeves. In 2014, I had the honour of opening the new $1.2 million pavilion next to the duck pond, a project I had championed in my 2011 campaign; along with a public art project (the Ecobuage fire pit) funded by the Winnipeg Arts Council.

The upgrades continued in 2016, with the new shipping container washroom building next to the play structure. In 2017, I was proud to open the new $750,000 toboggan slide complex, along with Riel MLA Rochelle Squires, who had contributed some provincial funding. In 2018, I provided ward funding to upgrade the park entry with better, lighted signage and new gardens.

This term of office at City Hall has featured one small budget project in the Park — new accessible swings near the play structure — as well as a $1.6 million road paving job in 2020.

The most recent project at the Park is the biggest yet in dollar terms — a new, $2.6 million staff house and garage, which will be located on the service road that leads to the park exit. This project is being funded with federal Canada Community-Building Fund (“gas tax”) dollars, and I was pleased to work with my former council colleague, and now member of Parliament, Dan Vandal, to get the budget approved. This is not a project with a big public profile but it will free up space near the park exit which can be used for some other new amenities.

When I ran laps around St. Vital Park as a high schooler, I never really considered what a jewel we had in our community. I am pleased that with the upgrades of the past 12 years that the residents of St. Vital and the rest of Winnipeg will be able to enjoy the park for decades to come.

Brian Mayes
St. Vital ward report

Brian Mayes is the city councillor for St. Vital.

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