RIVER LANDING CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE, NEW AMPHITHEATRE SPONSOR INTRODUCED, AND GLOBAL ART PROJECT UNVEILED
The City’s portion of construction at River Landing is now complete. The $81.5 million project reclaims Saskatoon’s waterfront and creates a year-round gathering place for residents and visitors. The redeveloped River Landing encompasses 36 acres from 19th Street to the South Saskatchewan River and from 3rd Avenue to Avenue C.
“River Landing was once a vision and now it’s a reality”, says Mayor Donald Atchison. “It is a breath-taking destination that draws thousands of families together and bridges our community. River Landing is now part of the signature of Saskatoon.”
Construction included landscaping and pedestrian bridges, riverfront trails, streetscaping, riverbank shoring, site remediation, underground services and site prep work for future residential and commercial developments. River Landing has a number of features such as a vast riverfront park, the Saskatoon Farmers Market, Ideas Inc., Market Square, Isinger Park, the “Prairie Wind” landmark, The War of 1812 Monument, a seasonal concession at the Pavilion Building, two amphitheatres, lookout points, a children’s water play feature, and an outdoor adult fitness circuit. Funding was provided by the City of Saskatoon, the Government of Canada, the Province of Saskatchewan, and the Meewasin Valley Authority.
At today’s event, Mayor Atchison also introduced the sponsor for the riverfront amphitheatre below Avenue A and Spadina Crescent. The Wright Construction Riverfront Stage includes a wooden platform with power capacity and a large grassy knoll with seating for more than 100 individuals to enjoy and use.
“We are proud to be a part of this legacy project that provides the citizens of Saskatoon with another gathering point for the arts, festivals, and cultural gatherings,” said Lorne Wright, President of Wright Construction.
Mayor Atchison and Mr. Wright also unveiled a large blackboard on the Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge abutment wall where residents and visitors can use the chalk provided to write their hopes and dreams for the future. The wall is inspired by the global art project called “Before I Die, I Want To...”. The wall lets people finish that sentence by reflecting on their lives and sharing their personal aspirations in a public space. Over 500 walls in 70 countries and 35 languages have been created.
BACKGROUND
River Landing Capital Construction
River Landing encompasses 36 acres from 19th Street to the South Saskatchewan River, and from 3rd Avenue to Avenue C and includes a number of features such as a vast riverfront park, the Saskatoon Farmers Market, Ideas Inc., Market Square, Isinger Park, War of 1812 Monument, the “Prairie Wind” landmark, a seasonal concession at the Pavilion Building, two amphitheatres, lookout points, water play feature, and an outdoor adult fitness circuit.
The total budget for all River Landing construction was $81.5 million. The project was funded by the City of Saskatoon, the Government of Canada, the Province of Saskatchewan, and the Meewasin Valley Authority.
Construction in River Landing first began in 2004 and the final portion of the City’s construction was finished in late 2014. The final construction work included the installation of turf, irrigation, and paving stones on a new path on the western edge of the site.
Features and Amenities Constructed
Isinger Park
Pavilion Building (seasonal concession)
Saskatoon Farmers’ Market
Ideas Inc.
“Prairie Wind” landmark
“Launch Time” public art installation
Fire Vessel
Two outdoor amphitheatres
Public and temporary art
Outdoor adult fitness circuit
Two boat docks
Fountain/lagoon feature
Year-round washrooms
Additional Redevelopment Activities
Site cleanup and remediation
Riverfront park design and construction
Underground servicing
Riverbank shoring
Viewpoints construction19th Street reconfiguration
Streetscaping
Pedestrian connections
River pedestrian bridges
Roads and sidewalks
Lighting
Parking
Riverfront trails
Landscaping
Refurbishment of the Pumphouse in order to be leased as a restaurant/bistro
Site prep for future residential and commercial developments
River Landing is a People Place
MVA statistics show along the riverbank trail system, an average of over 360,000 pedestrians and cyclists pass through the River Landing area each year.
In 2014, 67 different groups held 227 events at River Landing. Events included weddings, races, walks, dance classes, band recitals, concerts, tai chi classes, yoga classes, news conferences, Fireworks festival, WinterShines Festival, art shows, fashion shows,etc.
Wright Construction Riverfront Stage
Wright Construction has become the sponsor of the riverfront amphitheatre located in Phase II (the sponsorship is for 10 years, for $100,000).
Wright Construction is a general contractor serving Saskatchewan and is the creator of a number of Saskatchewan landmarks, including: the original buildings of the University of Saskatchewan, Hotel Saskatchewan Radisson Plaza in Regina, the Delta Bessborough Hotel in Saskatoon, and Persephone Theatre at River Landing Phase I. The company provides general contracting services including expertise ranging from site selection to total construction. The Wright family has been active in the Saskatchewan construction industry for over a century.
The Wright Construction Riverfront Stage is a free space for individuals to enjoy and use. The space includes a wooden stage with electrical outlets for different users. The adjacent large grassy knoll can accommodate over 100 people in the audience. The Stage can be booked by calling City of Saskatoon Allocations Section at 306-975-3366.
Global Art Project – “Before I Die, I Want To…”
The idea of the wall was first created by American artist Candy Chang in 2011 who felt compelled to express her grief after a close friend died. She painted blackboard paint on the side of an abandoned house (with permission) and wrote out the dreams she wanted to accomplish in her lifetime. She put out a basket of chalk and encouraged passersby to add their comments. The idea then spread across the world, and walls popped up in many cities, some lasting one day or up to one year.
This wall is both fun and thought-provoking, as a way for people to write out what they want to do in their lives. It’s very interactive to read the comments and see what is important to each of us and our community.
Residents of all ages are encouraged to visit the wall often and write out their dreams from their own personal bucket lists. Chalk is provided and people can also bring their own. Comments from other walls range from humourous to serious (examples include: have a book published; travel the world, tell my mother I love her; teach yoga; get a tattoo; run a marathon; find true love; end war.)
This area under the bridge links the two sides of River Landing. The wall will help brighten up the space and encourage more people to come down to visit and be inspired. It makes you think of all the great things we want to do. The painted wall is temporary in nature, and new questions will be posed periodically.