INTERPRETIVE SIGN UNVEILED AT HYDE PARK TODAY

Today, officials from the City of Saskatoon (City), along with Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Saskatoon Wildlife Federation, unveiled the first in a series of special interpretative signs at Hyde Park to celebrate the history of how the very unique naturalized park, one of the first of its kind in Saskatoon, came to be. 

Participating in the ceremony were His Worship Mayor Donald Atchison; Darren Crilly, Director of Parks Division; Michael Champion, Head of Industry and Government Relations for Ducks Unlimited Canada in Saskatchewan; Bob Rogers, Conservation Chairperson for the Saskatoon Wildlife Federation; and Reed Hentze, Vice President of the Rosewood Community Association.

Hyde Park, located in the Rosewood neighbourhood, is a 123 acre naturalized park.  The park was first identified in 2007 in the South East Park Landscape Master Plan when the City and involved stakeholders, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Saskatoon Wildlife Federation, made it a priority to approach the development of the Hyde Stormwater Management Area in an innovative way and work with the land in its naturalized state.  Through this process, it was decided it should serve as a wetland, storm water pond area, and a centre for interpretative and educational programming with respect to wetlands and natural habitat.  Through feedback from the community, the final park design evolved to include a total of five ponds, numerous walking trails and sports fields, play equipment, and an off-leash dog park set to open soon.

“Our citizens identify park space as vital to the quality of life in Saskatoon,” said Mayor Donald Atchison. “This park is special because it includes wetlands in their naturalized state unusual in their size and proximity to the city. This would not have been possible without the collaboration of the Administration, Ducks Unlimited Canada, and the Saskatoon Wildlife Federation.”

Ducks Unlimited Canada, along with partners, including a major contribution from the Saskatoon Wildlife Federation, committed an initial $100,000 to the development and construction of an educational and habitat component, including spearheading future programming and events.  Interpretative signs are a part of this educational component.  The sign unveiled at the ceremony today represents the first in a series designed to illustrate the history of the land and Hyde Park’s importance as a naturalized wetland in Saskatoon.

Hyde Park will be officially completed in the Fall of 2014, at which time, it will be owned and maintained by the City of Saskatoon Parks Division.  For more information on park construction, visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/parks.

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