Winnipeg, MB – At an event this afternoon, Councillor Russ Wyatt and members of the community celebrated the name dedication and enhancements to Reykdal Family Park.
"Reykdal Family Park is the perfect example of how the City and public can join together to improve our important park spaces so we can have a healthy and strong quality of life,” said Russ Wyatt, City Councillor for Transcona.
“My family and I were very pleased to be able to contribute towards the refurbishment of the Girl Guide building and we are proud to have our name featured on the park’s entrance,” said Mr. Vic Reykdal. “I have wonderful memories of growing up in Transcona and I hope that this park space and building provide area families with a place to meet and opportunities to stay active and healthy.”
Reykdal Family Park is a community park which boasts 6394 square metres of enhanced park space. Total City investment for this project was $279,000 and includes the following improvements:
- Installation of new playground equipment, seating area and swings
- Improved drainage, new soil and sod in the youth soccer field and a new backstop and player benches at the baseball diamond
- New park entrance feature and pathway
- Thirty-three new trees
- Replacement of wood fence bollards and new chain-link fencing installation
Construction of the City-funded park enhancements began in August 2017, and funding was provided through the City’s Parks and Recreation Enhancement Program ($164,500) and Land Dedication Reserve ($114,500).
Project management for improvements to the park’s Girl Guide building was provided by the Transcona BIZ. Funding for two new murals and other exterior building improvements was donated by the Reykdal Family.
Local Girl Guides took part in the improvement project by designing and painting a mural, in collaboration with professional artist, Nereo Eugenio II. Nereo also created and painted a mural on the north face of the building.
Reykdal Family Park is located 120 Dowling Avenue East.
Background on Reykdal Family Park
The Standing Policy Committee on Protection, Community Services and Parks approved the renaming of the park from Arts Action Centre to Reykdal Family Park on March 7, 2016.
The park is named after Mr. Vic Reykdal and his family. Vic is considered by many to be the ‘Father of Downtown Transcona Revitalization.’ Born and raised in Transcona, Vic has built a successful construction company with offices across Canada.
He returned to his home town over a decade ago and dedicated his time and efforts to the revitalization of Downtown Transcona. Key projects that Vic championed and supported were the “Welcome to Downtown Transcona” Archway and Centennial Transcona Square (featuring the CN Clock Tower).
Vic has also invested in Transcona through the construction of Skyview Terrace, a multi-family housing development located at Bond and Melrose. Additionally, Vic has built and renovated storefronts and constructed a new multi-family/commercial use building in the heart of Transcona’s Downtown.