Saskatoon is set to improve several neighborhood parks this spring with significant upgrades to enhance the outdoor experience. Funded by the City of Saskatoon and the Government of Canada through the natural infrastructure fund, these enhancements address existing deficiencies and bring the parks up to modern standards.
According to the city’s press release, the upgrades will include the installation of new pathways, improved lighting systems, advanced irrigation and drainage, and extensive tree and naturalized plantings. Additional amenities, such as benches, picnic tables, and play structures, will be introduced across multiple locations.
The parks targeted for these improvements include Boughton Park, Buena Vista Park, Forest Grove Linkage, Forestry Farm Linkage, John Avant Park, Leif Erickson Park, Marriott Park, Parc Canada, Parkridge Park, Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, Robert Hunter West Park, Sifton Park, and TJ Quigley Park.
One of the features of the park renovation project is the introduction of food forests at Boughton Park, located across from the Gordie Howe Arena, and Leif Erickson Park, which stretches along Avenue P from 23rd Street to Rusholme Road.
Food forests comprise a variety of trees, shrubs, and plants that produce edible fruits like apples, Saskatoon berries, cherries, and strawberries. These areas are intended to serve as welcoming community spaces where residents can freely harvest food.
“This will perhaps just be more of a focal point in a community space, and have signage, explaining what’s been planted and how and when to harvest, so hopefully it’s easier for people to understand what’s growing there,” Shannon Dyck, Saskatoon sustainability specialist, said, as reported by CTV News on April 26.
The city selected these sites for its food forest pilot project based on several criteria, including neighborhood household incomes, land availability, public accessibility, and proximity to grocery stores. The city has allocated approximately CA$350,000 for the project.
The food forests are expected to be fully operational by October of this year. During installation, the city warns that access to certain park areas and amenities will be temporarily restricted.
RV park owners and campground operators can glean essential lessons from Saskatoon’s proactive approach to upgrading its parks. Like Saskatoon’s initiative to enhance the outdoor experience by adding new amenities, campground owners can also consider investing in similar infrastructure improvements.
Campgrounds can significantly boost their attractiveness and functionality by introducing amenities such as improved lighting for safety, updated pathways for navigation, and engaging recreational facilities like play structures.
Additionally, Saskatoon’s introduction of food forests represents an innovative way to engage and provide value to the community, something that campgrounds can replicate to differentiate themselves from competitors.
This promotes environmental awareness and adds a layer of interactive leisure activity that can appeal to families and eco-conscious travelers. Campgrounds can foster a sense of community and connection among guests by creating these welcoming community spaces, enriching their stay, and encouraging repeat visits.
