Redevelopment of St. John’s Park report

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/11/2017 (3040 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The City of Winnipeg recently released the feedback received in regards to the redevelopment plan for St. John’s Park and construction is set to begin soon.

To celebrate the 125th anniversary of St. John’s Park in 2018, the City ordered a redevelopment master planning exercise to ensure that the park continues to meet the needs of the community. The report released on Nov. 6 states the different feedback received from community members during an open house and two online surveys.

Some desired improvements identified include better lighting, widened sidewalks, playground, picnic shelters, off-leash dog park, splash pad and others. People suggested that they don’t want organized sports, negative loitering, fences, and dangerous litter such as needles and syringes.

A majority of respondents indicated good support towards the riverbank access point for recreational activities like fishing, along with the healing forest initiative, natural playground, active transportation connections and improvement, community gardens, skateboard park, and basketball park. People said they want to see year-round amenities and services and year-round active transportation connections.

Lighting upgrades, pedestrian and cycle pathway improvements, graffiti removal and safety improvements, and tree planting were top priorities in the redevelopment planning of St. John’s Park. Activities for recreation like a nature playground and riverbank access point for fishing were additions to the park most welcomed by participants of the study.

The preferred location for the healing forest is along St. John’s Avenue because it is closer to amenities, provides easier access, there are more trees in this location, and it activates an underutilized area of the park.

Also, an interpretive feature is in design to tell the story of the early days of the City of Winnipeg’s park planning and the history of St. John’s Park.

Through the City’s Parks and Recreation Enhancement Fund, $340,000 was allocated to develop a master plan and to execute the first phase of the park’s redevelopment. Detailed design will occur in late 2017, and construction timing is anticipated to take place in spring/summer 2018. 

Go to http://www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/parksOpenSpace/ParkAreas/NewProjects/PDF/stjohnspark/StJohnsPark_PublicEngagementReport.pdf to see the full report.