A splashing good time

Enhanced recreation infrastructure in the works for Waverley West

By: Danielle Da Silva Posted: 2:18 PM CDT Monday, Aug. 31, 2015

While kids have been cooling off this summer at the new splash pad at Waverley Heights Community Centre, the heat is on for increased recreation opportunities in the growing neighbourhood.

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While kids have been cooling off this summer at the new splash pad at Waverley Heights Community Centre, the heat is on for increased recreation opportunities in the growing neighbourhood.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 31/08/2015 (3783 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While kids have been cooling off this summer at the new splash pad at Waverley Heights Community Centre, the heat is on for increased recreation opportunities in the growing neighbourhood.

St. Norbert MLA Dave Gaudreau, Coun. Janice Lukes (South Winnipeg-St. Norbert), and South Winnipeg Community Centre president Chuck Davidson officially opened the new splash pad on Aug. 28, though kids have been enjoying the facility since late June.

“What this does is gives us another asset in the community for the residents,” Davidson said. “We are one of the largest community centres in terms of our catchment area and in terms of the people we have within it, and what we’re always looking for are the needs people in our community have.”

Danielle Da Silva - Sou'wester
St. Norbert MLA Dave Gaudreau gives his approval to the new splash pad at Waverley Heights Community Centre (1885 Chancellor Dr.). — Danielle Da Silva - Sou'wester St. Norbert MLA Dave Gaudreau gives his approval to the new splash pad at Waverley Heights Community Centre (1885 Chancellor Dr.).

The Manitoba government committed $1.5 million for three splash pads across Winnipeg through the Building Manitoba Fund and the city will fund the operating costs of each.

The community centre’s new splash pad is the latest effort to enhance recreation facilities in the Waverley Heights and Waverley West region.

According to Coun. Lukes, Waverley West, which includes the Bridgwater neighbourhoods and South Pointe, is growing much quicker than expected and is putting pressure on neighbouring and aging facilities.

“This is really important to the community because southwest Winnipeg is the fastest growing quadrant in the city,” she said. “We have basically a city the size of Brandon coming on board with Waverley West; it’s growing faster than anticipated.”

To address the continual growth and aging infrastructure, the city is working on a Waverley West Recreational Campus to serve southwest Winnipeg. The plan includes a potential YMCA-YWCA; soccer, cricket, and basketball facilities; and an aquatics feature. Lukes says the city is working on finding a suitable property in the area between Kenaston Highway and Waverley Street known as Waverley West Area B, and a report will be tabled at City Hall in the coming months.

Danielle Da Silva - Sou'wester
From left: Chuck Davidson, president South Winnipeg Community Centre, Coun. Janice Lukes, and MLA Dave Gaudreau. — Danielle Da Silva - Sou'wester From left: Chuck Davidson, president South Winnipeg Community Centre, Coun. Janice Lukes, and MLA Dave Gaudreau.

“This is a wonderful addition and it’s packed all the time,” Lukes said of the splash pad. “There’s huge demand in the southwest and we’re working at putting a really good master plan complex together.”

“Because Waverley West is growing so rapidly, it’s an exciting time.”

MLA Gaudreau is also supportive of increased recreation opportunities in the area and adds that free leisure areas such as the splash pad are important to the health of the community.

“With the new South Pointe (development) coming up, I know the councillor has been expressing interest in a community club, and I’m going to advocate for my area for that,” Gaudreau said.

“I’d definitely love to see more recreation for people in the area. This kind of fun, free activity is not easy to find anymore.”