City breaks ground on Point Douglas park redevelopments

As young students sat on the ground watching, their principal and city councillor broke ground on park upgrades.

The City of Winnipeg says that they are redeveloping Blue Bird and Lismore parks. The parks are located alongside each other in Brooklands, near King Edward Street. The City says that the parks were in need of revamping.

"I remember walking through this neighbourhood, meeting with residents. They were telling me how important it was for families and children to feel safe, and be able to play within their own neighbourhood," Councillor Vivian Santos says. 

Santos says one year ago, a public workshop at Brooklands School discussed redevelopment ideas. She says the replacement of playground equipment, improving sightlines, and having better lighting were important to the participants. 

On Thursday morning, the city broke ground on its plans to make those improvements.

Rex Ferguson-Baird, the principal of nearby Brooklands School, brought some of his students along to the ceremony.

"One of the beautiful things about working in this neighbourhood is I've had the opportunity to meet generations of families that are in this community. Brooklands is a very special place," he says.

Ferguson-Baird told his students witnessing the groundbreaking is allowing them to see the results of community engagement.

The Oddly-Street parks will receive a $296,000 uplift.

Blue Bird Park is receiving new Play equipment and upgrades including:

• fencing
• site furniture
• lighting
• pathway
• sod

Lismore's upgrades include its:

• fencing
• pathway
• site furniture
• boulder seating
• firepit
• sod

Along with the upgrades, the city is removing an old playstructure. The Bannatyne Park play structure is being decommissioned, as the City says it "has reached the end of its useful life." THe City hopes to create a more central site at the two parks for the neighbourhood.