The City of Saskatoon is improving the storm water system to provide improved flood protection to residential and business properties near W.W. Ashley District Park.  These improvements to the storm water system will include the construction of a new storm water dry pond in the space of the current sport field (which will be permanently moved to the Aden Bowman Collegiate grounds) to temporarily hold rain water during a major storm, and also underground pipe system upgrades to drain water more quickly from the street.

The project team held an open house on June 17th, 2019 at the J.S. Wood Branch Public Library to collect input from local residents and park users regarding conceptual and programming ideas for a redesigned park that includes a dry pond.

Many residents and businesses in low lying, older areas have been devastated multiple times by flooding where the storm water system does not have the capacity to adequately manage flash flooding.  Streets in these higher-risk flood areas were not designed to convey storm water like they are now in newer neighbourhoods.

The City's Flood Control Strategy will help mitigate the risk of flooding in some higher-risk flood areas by upgrading storm water pipes and building dry storm water ponds in nearby parks where feasible.  This new infrastructure is expected to handle a 1-in-10 year rain event, similar to the rain events experienced in some areas of Saskatoon in 2017.  The Flood Control Strategy will cost $54 million over 9 years, with $21.6 million (40%) funded by the Government of Canada and $32.4 million (60%) funded by the City's Storm Water Utility.

The W.W. Ashley District Park area will be the first to receive upgraded storm water infrastructure under this program.  Included in these upgrades will be converting the space currently containing a sport field into a dry storm water pond, with the sport field being relocated to the Aden Bowman Collegiate grounds.  This project will not be making alterations to the areas of the park containing J.S. Wood Branch Public Library, Lathey Pool, the paddling pool, the play structure, or the summer skateboard program site.

Overhead Map

Below is an overhead map highlighting the location of the upcoming storm water dry pond in W.W. Ashley District Park.  This dry pond will greatly alleviate the stress on storm water pipes during flooding events and thereby greatly reduce flooding issues in the surrounding area.​  Except during and immediately following rain events, the dry pond would be clear of water.

The future site of the dry pond is currently a sport field.  Converting the sport field into a dry pond will not be a loss for the local community and park users.  An upgraded sport field will be constructed on the nearby Aden Bowman Collegiate grounds, as displayed in the map below.  The construction of the upgraded sport field will occur in 2019 and the dry pond will be constructed in 2020 to avoid disruption to sport field users.

Rendering of Dry Pond

Below is an early rendering of what a dry pond in W.W. Ashley District Park might look like.  Please note this is an early rendering.  The details and shape of the dry pond are subject to change. 

We will be asking attendees at the June 19^th Open House for input on how they would like this space to look and feel to help inform the redesign.

Angle Parking on Albert Street

We will also be asking attendees to give their feedback regarding the potential for angle parking on the west side of Albert Street between 1^st Street East and 2^nd Street East.  See the visual below for details.