Kiwanis Memorial Park South in downtown Saskatoon has been adversely affected by large amounts of traffic from large events held there over the years, so the City of Saskatoon is trying to figure out the balance between the events and the health of the trees, shrubs and grass.
A report to the Planning, Development and Community Services Committee says the most effective approach would be to limit traffic in particularly sensitive areas, while longer term measures are considered.
Mayor Charlie Clark doesn’t want to inhibit events in the downtown area.
He says Kiwanis Park is one of the best places to bring people together.
He wonders if it might be a better idea to consider the park more of a festival site than a natural park.
The report was requested by City Council last year and was received as information by the Committee, with a follow-up expected late his year.

From the report: “The green infrastructure within Kiwanis Park includes approximately 1.4 hectares of irrigated turf, 1,200 square meters of shrubs and approximately 43 trees worth an estimated value of over $400,000 in the area from the Band Shell to the Bessborough Hotel. The impacts of large scale events to the green infrastructure of Kiwanis Park have been cumulative over time and have resulted in reduced area and quality of turf and thinning of the tree canopy, a sign of declining health of the trees. “