We are collecting your feedback on VVCA proposed projects. The projects proposed are listed below with a short write up of how they are envisioned at this point. As residents in our neighbourhood have a wide array of worldly experiences and skills, we ask that you comment on which projects resonate the most with you and for ideas on how to make them world-class. We will be taking comments at our next registration night, January 21th, and gathering feedback via email info@vvcasaskatoon.com. After a period of public consultation, VVCA will announce our next major project(s) at our annual Louis’ event in the spring.
Heritage Trail and Recognition Signage in VV and GP
A Heritage Trail would serve to celebrate the history and heritage of one of Saskatoon’s oldest and most distinct neighbourhoods in Saskatoon, while encouraging conscious and active lifestyles. The trail would flow through quiet side streets, area parks and other neighbourhood corridors, potentially building on/improving existing street, sidewalk, walkway, alley and park infrastructure, with the opportunity to build site enhancements along the path route as desired. Such enhancements may include identifying signage, special trail lighting, water features, gardens, educational/activity sites for children, seating or picnic areas and bike medians/lanes to encourage alternative transit modes. The trail may receive best use from alternative traffic modes if situated diagonally across our communities, running from the southeast corner of Grosvenor Park to the Northwest corner of Varsity View (to McKinnon Ave and College Dr or Munroe Ave and College Dr).
Brunskill School Playground Renewal
The play structure in the school yard at Brunskill School was last updated in 1999. Since then the population of the school has steadily increased to its present capacity of 450 students. Brunskill School is the only Elementary school located in the Varsity View/Grosvenor Park area. Due to the number of children outside at recess time the structure is used only by the younger grades up to Grade 4. The playground is also regularly used by the children residing in the Varsity View area after school hours. The administration at the school would be very interested in partnering with VVCA and pursuing the possibility of an addition or replacement of this structure to improve the quality of the students’ recess experience. This project would have a very large impact on the play and enjoyment for the residents of Varsity View and the students at Brunskill/KCC Elementary School.
Multi-Use Court
The idea of a multi-purpose court is to incorporate a wide mix of sport and game activities into one court space, allowing a large cross section of the community to play their game of choice. Currently, the city of Saskatoon has no multi-use outdoor sport facilities, and a large (and still growing) demand for such space. While tennis is very well served, basketball, futsal, volleyball, ball hockey, badminton, bike polo and roller derby enthusiasts are all lacking in public sporting space that would allow them to play in Saskatoon parks. This project would make the chosen park a destination location for the city of Saskatoon, and the project could easily pair up with several community groups who are keen to improve the public access to active spaces for both children and adults.
Litter Receptacles and Awareness
The walk-ability and proximity to the University of Saskatchewan results in a high-volume of both vehicle and foot traffic throughout the neighborhood, and particularly closer to College drive, and other main thoroughfares such as Clarence and Cumberland. With increased use can also come litter. Our community does not currently have a strategy in place to help deal with litter, and offer pedestrians and motorists alike options for waste disposal. As a result, litter can be a problem in these high use areas, and has an impact on our neighborhood aesthetics. Providing more waste disposal options for both residents and passers-by would go a long way to keeping our neighborhood beautiful.
Albert Rec Unit Replacement
Albert Recreational Park borders on Nutana and Varsity View communities. It is a unique park – fully fenced, divided in half with paddling pool and play apparatus on one side, basketball court and play structures on the other. With the city’s continuing growth the upgrade for this park keeps getting pushed back and safety has become an issue. In partnership with Nutana Community Association (NCA), VVCA and NCA could bring this park back to life!
Dog Park
Our community enjoys a number neighbourhood parks, many of which are underused for many months of the year. A site suitable for dog owners to take their pets to within the community to walk, run and play in an off-leash setting has been raised by a number of community members in past years. This proposal recognizes that the City of Saskatoon has numerous off-leash parks, however none within walking or cycling distance of either Varsity View or Grosvenor Park. Such a site could feature low-maintenance rubber pellet or natural prairie landscaping (for minimal operating expense) within a fenced/hedged perimeter to enclose the space, minimizing noise disturbance to neighboring homes. A park would be complete with pet waste and watering depots, sun shelters/trees and seating areas for owners to visit with one another. Rod V. Real Park has been identified as one possible site for such development.
Climbing Area/Skateboard Park
Although VV and GP have spaces for young children, teens have few recreational opportunities close by in VV&GP. This project would construct an all ages climbing area of natural stone for children and children at heart to enjoy coupled with a skateboard park. Areas of increasing difficulty would allow children to practice their dexterity while developing coordination in a unique climbing environment. Teenage residents would enjoy skateboard features to practice their skills close to home.
Public Art, Functional Public Art (i.e., Chess Boards)
Art is fundamental to our humanity, ennobling and inspiring us. Public works of art foster a sense of community and public space as being more than merely functional; they help us express our values, build inter-cultural bridges, and open up the everyday and mundane to re-examination and small moments of wonder. They make our neighborhood more welcoming, beautiful, and more lively. Public art can also be practical and interactive. For example stone chess boards along public walkways encourage non-sporting park use, and musical swings # allows playground equipment to be a multi-player instrument.
Zen Garden/Meditative Garden
As hustling neighbourhoods, Grosvenor Park and Varsity View have few spaces one can sit and escape from the world. This project envisions a restorative space within an existing public space that creates tranquility and reflection.
