Revamped stadium, pool projects coming along

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This article was published 14/06/2017 (3127 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There wasn’t much new business before the East Kildonan-Transcona Community Committee on June 13. However, funding some major projects in Transcona were confirmed, and updates provided on a number of ongoing developments.

Last month, committee approved $34,956.97 towards renovating an outbuilding at the Transcona Stadium for the Red River Valley Sports League to store groundskeeping equipment on site.

This month, committee approved an additional $70,000 from Transcona’s land dedication reserve, on top of a previously approved $23,000, towards replacing the fencing along the backstop and foul lines. Steel mesh will also replace the current cloth netting.

“Transcona Stadium has seen better days,” admitted Dan Cox, president of the Red River Valley Sports League, who addressed the committee. “Thankfully, this committee has committed to improve field and surrounding infrastructure at this iconic Winnipeg facility.”

Other improvements funded by the city include new bleachers, and an improved infield. The Red River Valley Sports League has raised over $24,000 to date to restore the iconic Transcona Stadium scoreboard.

According to Cox, “interest in baseball in Manitoba has increased” with the recent success of the Toronto Blue Jays. He added that this season 830 kids aged four to 18 registered with Red River Valley, which encompasses northeast Winnipeg, East St. Paul, Selkirk, and the RM of Springfield. Nearly half those kids were from northeast Winnipeg, including the reintroduction of two teams from Chalmers Community Centre.

Transcona Stadium, Cox said, was one of only two city owned ball diamonds in the area that can accommodate the dimensions needed for older age groups (14 to 16, and 16 to 18). The other is next to the Terry Sawchuk Arena (901 Kimberly Ave.).

“In 2016 we had five teams using those two diamonds as home diamonds,” Cox said.

• Funding from Transcona’s land dedication reserve for two additions to new Transcona outdoor pool project (1101 Wabasha St.) were confirmed: a toddler fence will be installed between the splash pad and the pool at a cost of $22,550, and $19,079 for artificial turf. The “outdoor aquatic park” is slated to open June 30.

• Coun. Russ Wyatt (Transcona) also approved a $6,900 grant towards the redevelopment of the skate park at Victoria Jason Park on Redonda Street.

“I hear from kids who skateboard who would like to see an improved facility,” Wyatt said, adding they are looking to upgrade the existing park to a “pour in place” concrete park. “Many children are involved in organized sport, but there are many who prefer skateboarding and biking. This is something I hope will appeal to them.”

• Names for two new paths through west Transcona were submitted for approval. Following a request from the Transcona Trails Association, the Marianne Cerilli Trail, named in honour of the former Radisson MLA, will run from Concordia Avenue East along the west side of Peguis Street to Regent Avenue E.

“It’s an honour to support this request,” Wyatt said.

“I don’t use this word often, but I commend Coun. Wyatt’s motion and recommendation of Transcona Trails Association,” Coun. Jason Schreyer added, praising Cerilli’s history of activism.

Trailhead signs and a cairn with a plaque detailing Cerilli’s work in the area will be added in time.

Transcona Boulevard’s active transportation path, which will run from Plessis Street to the Marianne Cerilli Path, will be known as the Park City Pathway.

• The committee heard updates on a number of ongoing projects in the Park City, too. Work on twinning Transcona Boulevard and the upgrading intersection at Kildare Avenue and Plessis Road is moving along. An open house on the changes will be held at on June 28 at Park City West Community Centre (115 Sanford Fleming Rd.). A construction permit for the new Transcona Library (1 Transcona Blvd.) is pending. And construction of the active transportation pathway and rail crossing at Peguis Street and Concordia Avenue East is expected to take place in the fall.

• Coun. Browaty (North Kildonan) moved a $5,000 grant to East Winnipeg Sports Inc. to develop a business plan, and $4,000 for water coolers at Kilcona Park.

• A motion was also passed requesting Munroe Avenue, between Brazier Street and Watt Street, be redesigned from P1 to P2 so that a school zone could be established. Browaty requested a traffic study be undertaken to establish whether a four-way stop is warranted at the intersection of Headmaster Row and Vintage Hills Crescent and Tamarisk Cove.

The next East Kildonan-Transcona Community Committee meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Tues., July 11.

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