By KEVIN BERGER, Local Journalism Initiative
The RM of Corman Park has given its support to the Meewasin Valley Authority to apply for a grant from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) that will enable the planting of approximately 4,000 native trees and shrubs at a park located south of Saskatoon.
RM councillors unanimously voted at their August 19 meeting on a motion supporting the application to the Growing Canada’s Community Canopies (GCCC) initiative, which is itself offered through FCM’s Green Municipal Fund.
Earlier in the meeting, two representatives of the Meewasin Valley Authority — manager of design and development Alan Otterbein and design assistant Jenna Stusek — laid out the details of the project.
Stusek said they have a master plan in partnership with the City of Saskatoon for the restoration of Chief Whitecap Park, a 155-hectare site east of the South Saskatchewan River that previously served as a hayfield and a Department of National Defence rifle range.
Following this master plan, more than 4,250 square metres (or 0.425 hectares) have been planted over the past eight years with naturalized beds that mimic the surrounding forested bluffs.
In addition, the public park site also includes an off-leash dog park, multi-use trail and site amenities like parking lots, benches and trash units.
“This grant from FCM would allow Meewasin to plant approximately 4,000 native and naturalized trees and shrubs over the next two years … to increase biodiversity, provide habitat and assist in re-naturalizing the park,” said Stusek.
Meewasin would use internal staff and resources to complete the design and application, site preparation, and planting and maintenance with the help of volunteers, Stusek noted.
However, despite the fact that Chief Whitecap Park is owned by the City of Saskatoon, the site still falls within the RM of Corman Park. That’s why Meewasin needed to approach the RM in order to get their support for the application, Stusek explained.
As Meewasin is the lead applicant, all matching funds required by the grant will be covered by the authority, with no financial implications for the RM.
