Toilers Park gets refurbishment

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/04/2014 (3345 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Residents may have noticed there are big changes coming to Toilers Memorial Park — and they serve a dual purpose.

The first purpose is to reduce the amount of flooded basements for residents in Fort Garry and within the Cockburn-Calrossie drainage system. The second will beautify the park. Duane Griffin, branch head of wastewater planning and delivery for the city of Winnipeg, is in charge of the project.

“We’re upgrading the combined sewer and overflow system and land drainage system in the area,” Griffin said. “And we’re putting a new outflow pipe to the (Red) river and a new gate chamber, and the access to discharge the water into the Red River.”

Griffin said residents in the area will directly see the benefits of the new drainage system.

“Improving the land-drainage collection system and providing a direct outlet to the river for that rain water will then reduce the potential for basement flooding during a heavy rain event.”

The project in Toilers Park is part of a larger pipeline project which extends past Pembina Highway and heads north up into the rapid transit corridor. The Toiler Park segment of the project will cost $2.6 million, Griffin said.

 While the larger project, in its entirety, could take around three years to complete, Griffin said the Toiler’s Park pipe installation will be completed this week. Construction had to be completed during the winter while the river’s water levels were down.

 Right now the park is a little torn up and will remain that way until spring, but Griffin said when the thaw does finally come they will begin sprucing up the park.

“In the springtime, they’ll start the sod restoration, the tree planting, and things like that to restore the park,” Griffin said. “Make it look nice… you can’t plant the sod right now then bury it in snow.”

The City of Winnipeg will host an open house Tues., April 8 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Lord Roberts Community Centre (725 Kylemore Ave.) The open house will provide an opportunity for residents to get an update on construction at the site and proposed landscaping plans.

For information about the project, go online at http://wwdengage.winnipeg.ca

Facebook.com/TheSouwesterWPG
Twitter: @souwesterWPG