Waterslides, a hot tub and lap pool at Wascana Park? Those are some of the amenities that will soon be available to residents and visitors to the Regina park.
The City of Regina announced Wednesday that construction of the new Wascana Pool will commence in June. The total of the project is $15.7 million with $12 million being provided through the Saskatchewan government’s Municipal Economic Enhancement Program for the project.
“The new Wascana Pool can be enjoyed by everyone and increase visitation to our crown-jewel, Wascana Park,” said Mayor Sandra Masters in a release on Tuesday. “When it opens, one can expect to see a walk-in leisure pool, lap pool, hot tub, waterslides, lazy river, along with accessible washrooms and change rooms.”
Construction is expected to be completed by 2023 in time for the pool’s first full season. Diana Hawryluk, executive director of city planning and community development, believes the project could be done before spring 2023 as long as there are no delays.”
“We want to get it tested so we can get signoffs on all of that when pools open in June for the season,” mentioned Hawryluk.
Next to the pool will be a new accessible playground and spray pad, which will be free for people to access. A concession will also be open to both pool users and visitors to the park.
This June construction is starting at Wascana Pool!
Thousands of residents helped with the design. It’s going to be an exciting, fun place!
Check out the renderings! There is a lazy river, lap pool, hot tub, waterslides & more!
For more info, visit https://t.co/oneQFeM1WQ pic.twitter.com/dQx0kA0bjF
— City of Regina (@CityofRegina) June 2, 2021
The design of the pool was developed through extensive public engagement focused on understanding residents’ expectations for a new pool, preferred amenities, the overall user experience, along with how the pool should fit within Wascana Park. Several phases were incorporated into the process and included input from the general public and stakeholders, including current and future generations of pool users, according to the City.
Hawryluk said they have been able to reduce the number of trees that have to be removed to make room for the project to about 10 trees.
“The trees that we will be taking out will be replaced at a ratio of three to one, and those locations where we’ll have relocations will be determined in conjunction by Provincial Capital Commission staff,” she explained.
The spray pad and accessible playground that will be built next to the pool will also require another tree to be removed.
