Opening of Splash Pad; Future Recreation Campus in SW Winnipeg

While kids have been cooling off this summer at the new splash pad at Waverley Heights Community Centre, the heat is on for increased recreation opportunities in the growing neighbourhood.

St. Norbert MLA Dave Gaudreau, Coun. Janice Lukes (South Winnipeg-St. Norbert), and South Winnipeg Community Centre president Chuck Davidson officially opened the new splash pad on Aug. 28, though kids have been enjoying the facility since late June.  “What this does is gives us another asset in the community for the residents,” Davidson said. “We are one of the largest community centres in terms of our catchment area and in terms of the people we have within it, and what we’re always looking for are the needs people in our community have.”

The Manitoba government committed $1.5 million for three splash pads across Winnipeg through the Building Manitoba Fund and the city will fund the operating costs of each.

The community centre’s new splash pad is the latest effort to enhance recreation facilities in the Waverley Heights and Waverley West region.

According to Coun. Lukes, Waverley West, which includes the Bridgwater neighbourhoods and South Pointe, is growing much quicker than expected and is putting pressure on neighbouring and aging facilities.

“This is really important to the community because southwest Winnipeg is the fastest growing quadrant in the city,” she said. “We have basically a city the size of Brandon coming on board with Waverley West; it’s growing faster than anticipated.”

To address the continual growth and aging infrastructure, the city is working on a Waverley West Recreational Campus to serve southwest Winnipeg. The plan includes a potential YMCA-YWCA; soccer, cricket, and basketball facilities; and an aquatics feature. Lukes says the city is working on finding a suitable property in the area between Kenaston Highway and Waverley Street known as Waverley West Area B, and a report will be tabled at City Hall in the coming months.

“This is a wonderful addition and it’s packed all the time,” Lukes said of the splash pad. “There’s huge demand in the southwest and we’re working at putting a really good master plan complex together.”  “Because Waverley West is growing so rapidly, it’s an exciting time.”

The Sou’Wester, Danielle Da Silva,  Posted: 08/31/2015

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