The City of Saskatoon’s Community Services General Manager says many of us are eager to get out to the ball diamond, the pool and the spray parks as soon as possible, but the re-opening will be phased in. The province has announced that Monday will be the first part of Phase 4 of the re-opening of the economy and in line with that, the City is getting its outdoor recreation facilities ready to go.
Lynn Lacroix says play can resume on the City’s 150 free-of-charge sports field on June 22nd and then the fields that are rented for organized sports will resume on July 1st because there is a little more organizing that goes into them with bookings. The exception is full contact sports, which can’t resume as laid out by provincial guidelines.
What’s already available right now are 250 play structures including school playgrounds, 38 tennis courts, 11 pickleball courts, 11 dog parks, all three golf courses, multiple skateboard sites, and disc golf. The city is targeting Friday, June 26th for the opening of spray pads while the Riversdale and George Ward outdoor pools are slated to be opened in the first week of July. The Lathey and Mayfair outdoor pools have yet to have their opening date determined. The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo is also looking at a first week of July opening. The park is already open, it’s just the zoo that’s closed right now. The 28 locations for play program and paddling pools is hopeful of opening in mid-July at the latest.
When the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan’s Phase 4.2 is ready to come online, so will the opening of Lakewood Civic Centre and the Shaw Centre. The City of Saskatoon has yet to determine when the remaining leisure centres will open.
Lacroix adds that a number of safety measures and supplies need to be in place for these facilities to safely open, and they need to hire staff.
She estimates 180 people were laid off, including from the leisure centres which are part of the second stage of Phase 4 with no specific date announced for that yet. Over the summer, the City will need about 430 to 470 to operate and maintain their recreation and sports facilities and run the programs.
Spray Pads – targeting opening for June 26
Sports Fields – Play can resume on the City’s 150 free-of-charge sports fields on June 22. Parks Division is busy undertaking the necessary preparations so that City rentals can resume on July 1. This includes organized sports and activities taking place on multipurpose fields and ball diamonds. Full contact sports will not be permitted at this time under the provincial guidelines
Outdoor Pools
Riversdale & George Ward Pools – targeting opening for the first week of July, dates and hours will be announced on saskatoon.ca/outdoorpools
Lathey & Mayfair Pools – TBD
Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo – targeting opening for the first week of July, dates and hours will be announced on saskatoon.ca/zoo
Play Program & Paddling Pools (28 Locations) – targeting opening for approximately mid-July at the latest
Leisure Centres
Lakewood Civic Centre – pending announcement of Phase 4.2
Shaw Centre – pending announcement of Phase 4.2
Remaining Leisure Centres – TBD
