After undergoing three summers of construction to mitigate flooding, Hugh Fraser expressed his satisfaction with the newly reopened Brevoort Park as he enjoyed the fresh grass and newly planted trees on Tuesday. Recognizing the efforts of himself and his neighbors, Fraser highlighted their collective pressure on the city to expedite the park’s opening by a month, allowing people to relish the refurbished space before winter sets in.
In a gathering that included around 20 individuals, mostly city hall officials, the retired resident of Saskatoon commemorated the park’s reopening situated above a substantial concrete basin capable of holding water equivalent to two Olympic-sized swimming pools. This revitalized section of the park, located in the Brevoort Park neighborhood, marks the fourth completed phase of a $54 million city hall initiative spanning several years aimed at preventing flooding in specific areas.
Speaking in an interview, Fraser expressed the delight of Brevoort Park residents over the park’s reopening, emphasizing the lengthy wait but ultimate satisfaction with the outcome. Despite the notable absence of many neighbors at the event, Fraser noted the park’s significance following its prolonged closure due to the construction project.
Highlighting the basin’s effectiveness, a city hall press release affirmed that the storage system beneath the park successfully retained an Olympic-size pool of water during a rainstorm on Labour Day. With a total capacity of 8.6 million liters, the storage tanks fill up during rainfall to prevent the storm sewer system from being overwhelmed and to avert water accumulation on streets and potential basement flooding.
Russ Munro, the director of Saskatoon Water, underscored that the Brevoort Park project will safeguard 41 homes from flooding. Mayor Cynthia Block recounted her initial days as a city councilor, reflecting on the devastating impact of flood events on residents who sought assistance from city hall.
Block shared her sense of defeat in managing flooding issues until she discovered a federal program addressing such challenges during a conference, leading to $21.6 million in federal funding for the city’s initiative. Block acknowledged possible frustrations among Brevoort Park residents due to the temporary loss of the park but emphasized the neighborhood’s strong attachment to the park.
The innovative system beneath Brevoort Park represents a pioneering project where infrastructure is concealed beneath a park. In contrast, the three other completed projects involve dry ponds that remain usable during normal conditions but fill up during floods to alleviate pressure on the storm sewer system. These dry ponds are situated in W. W. Ashley District Park, Churchill Park, and Weaver Park, with a fourth nearing completion in Cumberland Park. Additionally, four other flood mitigation projects are currently in progress and are expected to be finalized by the following year.