Winnipeg, MB - Families in St. Vital will have an exciting new toboggan slide and warming shelter to enjoy during winter 2014 - 2015 thanks to a $63,400 investment through Phase Three of the Manitoba/Winnipeg Building Communities Initiative (BCI) II partnership. The announcement was made today by Theresa Oswald, Minister of Jobs and the Economy on behalf of Kevin Chief, Minister of Children and Youth Opportunities and Minister responsible for the City of Winnipeg within the Department of Municipal Government, Mayor Sam Katz, and Winnipeg City Councillor Brian Mayes (St. Vital).
“It’s easier to attract children and families to healthy outdoor exercise when the purpose is to have fun,” said Minister Oswald “That was true when I brought my toboggan here as a child, and as a parent. The new features will be modern, cool and accessible for big time fun for years to come.”
“The City of Winnipeg is committed to providing affordable outdoor recreation facilities for residents, year-round,” said Mayor Katz. “Kids and families will enjoy the new toboggan slides and warming shelter at St. Vital Park for many winters to come.”
“The toboggan slides at St Vital Park have a long history,” said Councillor Brian Mayes, St. Vital Ward. “My friends and I remember the slides from the 70’s, and now as a parent I have come to the slides many times with my own kids. When the warming hut burned down last year we had an opportunity to upgrade the whole area, maintaining the current direction of the slides while making them safer and creating a new and improved warm-up shelter. Since the new shelter will also be useable as a summer picnic space, this upgrade will be a great benefit for the families who come to St Vital Park.”
The completed project will feature two toboggan slides (each at different heights) as well as a four-season shelter with pivoting doors and viewing deck. The new slides and shelter will replace the existing toboggan slides which are in need of an update.
The design of the new slides and shelter will be unique to St. Vital Park. Inspiration for the shelter’s walls, which feature a series of cutout V’s, came from a Mary Maxim sweater pattern which originated in Manitoba. The cutout V’s represent knit stitches.
Additional funding for the new St. Vital Park toboggan slides and warming shelter will be allocated from the City’s 2014 Parks and Recreation Enhancement Program, specifically from the St. Vital Ward allocation. The estimated final cost of the project is $250,000.
The BCI partnership is a multi-year, 50-50 cost-shared capital initiative developed jointly by the Manitoba government and the City of Winnipeg. BCI II and III will provide $23.8 million to support community revitalization through improvements to local infrastructure in targeted older neighbourhoods and contribute to the vitality, safety and health of communities throughout the city.
Phase One of BCI II provided $10 million between 2010 and 2014. Of the 38 approved projects under the first phase, 35 have been completed, with the remaining three to be completed by the end of December 2014.
Phase Two of BCI II will provide an additional $10 million between 2013 and 2015. An additional 38 projects have been approved under Phase Two, with nine being completed and the remaining to be completed in the 2014 and 2015 construction seasons.
Phase Three of BCI III will provide an additional $3.8 million. Sixty per cent of the funding for this phase is provided by the City of Winnipeg and 40 per cent is contributed by the Province of Manitoba. Twenty-two projects have been approved to date and will be completed in 2014 and 2015.
BCI II projects include improving athletic fields, playgrounds, skate parks, spray and splash pads, basketball and tennis courts, lighting, seating, pathways in parks and upgrades of community centres.
Click here to view design images of the St. Vital Toboggan and Warming Shelter Project.