The City of Saskatoon is asking for feedback to help improve the connectivity and accessibility for walking and cycling traffic on Victoria Avenue from Taylor Street to Ruth Street. There are two ways for you to provide input for this project, as you may have seen from the flyer delivered to your door.

On Tuesday, July 23rd, there will be an open house at Avalon Alliance Church (413 Cascade Street) from 6:00 to 8:00 pm that you can ask questions and provide input for this project.

From now until Tuesday, August 20th there is an online survey that you can fill out to share your ideas.

For more information about this project, like the current timeline, please visit the City of Saskatoon website. Your feedback on this project will help shape the future of our community.

Photo Credit – City of Saskatoon

Many residents and businesses in low lying, older areas have been devastated multiple times by flooding where the storm water system does not have the capacity to adequately manage flash flooding.  Streets in these higher-risk flood areas were not designed to convey storm water like they are now in newer neighbourhoods.

The City of Saskatoon’s Flood Control Strategy (FCS) is underway with the completion of the dry storm pond in W.W. Ashley District Park and the nearly completed construction in Churchill Park.  The dry ponds are designed to hold storm water that would otherwise cause flooding during intense rainfalls.  They are designed to drain within 24 hours, so the area can continue to be utilized as park or recreational space outside of rainfall events.

Plans by Saskatoon Water are on track for the third FCS project: construction of a dry storm pond on the north side of Weaver Park this year.  The project, which was approved by City Council on April 25, 2022, will help mitigate flooding near the intersections at Dufferin Ave. and Cascade St. and at Dufferin Ave. and Bute St.

This project update has the latest information about the Weaver Park Project. The next project update is scheduled for 2024.

Related to the Weaver Park Dry Storm Pond Project, the City will be removing and replacing old watermains.  If you have been notified of a watermain and service connection replacement project on your street, this short informational video explains the process and what to expect.

As well, this summer, the City will expand the scope of the project to include irrigation upgrades on the south side of the park, which will be fenced off and closed for construction beginning in late-July.
During the dry storm pond project engagement process, the City had committed to keeping the playground open, however this recent change in scope means construction will now be taking place on all four sides of the playground. The playground will also be affected by the irrigation upgrades.
These upgrades mean the park will be completely irrigated – both the pond (north) and the multipurpose field (south).
It is the City’s aim to keep the playground open for as long as possible, but it will eventually be fenced off and temporarily closed.  It will reopen this fall or possibly earlier, depending on adjacent construction progress.

If you have any questions about the watermain project, please contact:
Transportation & Construction Division | tel 306.975.2476
Construction & Design Department | Technical Services Department
City of Saskatoon | 222 3rd Avenue North | Saskatoon, SK  S7K 0J5
constructionupdates@saskatoon.ca

Please, visit “Weaver Park Redesign” for a recorded presentation that includes the renderings, information on how the dry storm pond will function and an explanation on the various stages of construction.

For questions or concerns related to this project, please, contact:
Mitch McMann, Storm Water Utility Manager
Saskatoon Water, City of Saskatoon
222 3rd Avenue North Saskatoon, SK  S7K 0J5
Phone: 306-986-0914
E-mail: mitchell.mcmann@saskatoon.ca

From an email sent by Andrew Roberts, Director, Recreation and Community Development for the City of Saskatoon:
“The current work at Lathey Pool involves the removal of the existing water slide that has reached the end of its useful life to be replaced with a new slide as part of our Facilities Department’s asset management.  The work is scheduled to be completed and the new slide in place in time for the 2023 outdoor pool operating season.  The new slide will include a new run out section that will provide a more enjoyable and safer experience for all pool users.”

Update March 27, 2023
“The waterslide installment is on track to be completed by the end of April.  This will allow proper time for landscaping of the area prior to opening in early June.“
From an email sent by Lori Brown, Recreation Services Manager, Recreation and Community Development for the City of Saskatoon.

Update:

Open House
The opening event has been rescheduled to Tue. Oct. 4 at 10:00 a.m. in the park.

Monday, June 20, 2022: New pond passed with flying colours. The performance of the new storm pond, in W.W. Ashley Park, appears to have handled the influx of stormwater, exactly as intended.  It filled up “like an Olympic swimming pool” in just a few hours. Learn more in the StarPhoenix.

Many residents and businesses in low lying, older areas have been devastated multiple times by flooding where the storm water system does not have the capacity to adequately manage flash flooding.  Streets in these higher-risk flood areas were not designed to convey storm water like they are now in newer neighbourhoods.
The City of Saskatoon has upgrading the storm water system to improve flood protection to residential and business properties near the 1st Street/ Dufferin Avenue and Taylor Street/ Broadway Avenue intersections. This will impact the multi-purpose sport field at W.W. Ashley Park and some local roads during construction.

Phase 1 Excavation of the W.W. Ashley District Park Dry Storm Pond Project is complete.

Phase 2 – Landscape construction is now substantially complete.

Phase 3 – Storm sewer construction and sidewalk and road rehabilitation work on Dufferin Ave. and Lansdowne Ave. from 1st St. E. to Taylor St. E. has been completed.

For questions or concerns related to this project please contact our Customer Care Centre at 306 975-2476 or email us at customercare@saskatoon.ca.
Transportation and Construction Division 306 975-2476
Construction and Design Department / Technical Services Department
City of Saskatoon 222 3rd Ave. N. Saskatoon SK  S7K 0J5
constructionupdates@saskatoon.ca 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Saskatoon is unable to hold in person open houses for key construction projects scheduled for the summer of 2021. This video describes water main maintenance and service connection work that will take place on Ruth Street between Broadway Avenue and Lorne Avenue.

It is hoped that the presentation answers some of the questions area residents have. After watching, residents may contact the City of Saskatoon either by phone 306-975-2476 or e-mail constructionupdates@saskatoon.ca with further questions.

The work will be phased in order to minimize disruptions to area residents:
Phase 1 – Sidewalk Rehabilitation Work – Complete
Phase 2 – Sewer Service Connection Work – Complete
Phase 3 – Road Resurfacing Work – Underway

Due to the amount of rain the city received recently this project has been set back. To accommodate the still needed rehabilitation work along with repairing the damage the rain caused phase 3 will now be split into smaller parts, this repair work is currently being undertaken.

For details, view the Project Map and read the Project Update. The next project update is scheduled for Wednesday, August 3, 2022.

Prevent the spread of Dutch Elm Disease by not pruning elms during the provincial ban from Apr. 1 to Aug. 31.  Mother Nature thanks you.
It is illegal to use, transport, store or sell elm firewood. Be a responsible citizen and dispose of elm wood at the City Landfill.

If you suspect an elm tree is unhealthy – wilting, yellowing leaves beginning in late June – call Urban Forestry at 306-975-2890. Thanks for doing your part!

For more information, visit saskatoon.ca/dutchelmdisease.

Although spelled differently, McPherson Avenue is believed to be named after Sir David Lewis MacPherson.  Minister of the Interior under John A. MacDonald’s government in 1882, he was responsible for the policy of granting land to settlement companies in return for assurances of the number of settlers the companies would bring.  MacPherson gave the Temperance Colonization Society a land grant to establish their colony in Saskatoon.
From Exhibition LAP Final Report

According to historian Keith Carlson, temperance colony activist John Lake named the street in his honour after the politician intervened and stopped the surveying of long, narrow Metis river lots in the area.
Stephanie Danyluk, a historical researcher, is asking Saskatoon City Council to consider renaming McPherson Avenue, given its namesake’s “egregious” policy decisions while serving as Prime Minister John A. Macdonald’s minister of the interior.
From Saskatoon StarPhoenix, March 5 2021

Researcher Stephanie Danyluk penned a letter to City Council in which she noted
his mistreatment of Métis people asserting their land rights, citing it as a catalyst to the 1885 Riel Resistance.
From Global News, March 9 2021

We are excited to share the good news that City Council officially adopted the Exhibition Local Area Plan at yesterday’s meeting!

The report has been posted at saskatoon.ca/LAP, which is also where implementation updates on the 36 recommendations of the Exhibition LAP will be posted periodically in the future.

Thank you to the more than 190 Exhibition and Queen Elizabeth community members for your contributions in creating the plan! We hope everyone feels a sense of pride in helping your community. LAPs are not possible without the involvement and commitment of local stakeholders. We can’t do it without you!

What is a Local Area Plan

Local Area Planning is a community-based approach to developing comprehensive neighbourhood plans that enable residents, business owners, property owners, community groups, and other stakeholders to have direct input into the future of their neighbourhood.

Once completed, a LAP establishes the vision and goals to guide the growth and development of a neighbourhood.  It also identifies specific recommendations for improvements within a neighbourhood.

The study area boundary for the Exhibition LAP is Taylor Street to the North, Broadway Avenue to the East, Ruth Street (East of Lorne Avenue) and Circle Drive (West of Lorne Avenue) to the South, and the riverbank to the West (see attached study area map).

A picture is worth a thousand words! The City is asking residents to show what you love about living in the area.
See some of the photos that have been shared.
Submit photos of the sights and activities you enjoy.

If you have any questions about the LAP, the LAP Process, or the meetings, please contact:
Keith Folkersen, Senior Planner
Neighbourhood Planning Section
City of Saskatoon
Phone: 306 986-1690
E-mail: keith.folkersen@saskatoon.ca

The City of Saskatoon’s Good Neighbour Guide provides a handy overview of Saskatoon’s bylaws, standards and regulations to help us all do our part to keep our neighbourhoods and city safe, clean and beautiful.
The guide includes information about:

• Boulevard and Back Lane Maintenance
• Fences
• Fire Pits
• Garage and Yard Sales
• Garbage, Recycling and Composting
• Home-based Businesses
• Home Development
• Hot Tubs and Swimming Pools
• Landscaping
• Noise
• Parking
• Property Drainage
• Responsible Pet Ownership
• Snow and Ice on Sidewalks
• Untidy Properties