Community members hold ‘ideas jam’ for future of block next to Holy Rosary Park

One year after demolition, residents pitched ideas for the former school site, focusing on safety, comfort and access to nature.

A year after the Holy Rosary School was demolished In Regina, community members gathered for an ‘ideas jam’ on Saturday on what to do next with the land west of the former school site.

“With that loss, we decided we take matters into our own hands and develop a community vision,” said Jennifer Fix, an organizer with The Friends of Holy Rosary Park, a volunteer group. “Then we’ll be undergoing fundraising in order to hopefully bring those ideas along.”

Vision boards were placed around Regina Early Learning Centre, where community members could place stickers on the ideas they preferred the most. The volunteer group looks to use “a mix of ingredients,” including “invitation, comfort and safety and access to nature.”

The ideas jam also had a landscape architect on hand, who took ideas from visitors, creating scenarios for the two thirds of the block that they look to use.

Members could place stickers on parts of the area that they felt most safe and unsafe, as well as active, restful, social and introverted.

There were 265 people who participated in an online survey administered by The Friends of Holy Rosary Park last spring.

In that survey, 77 per cent of takers said that it’s “extremely important” or “very important” to develop the park further.

Common preferences for future park features include picnic areas and benches, playground equipment, accessibility and walkways.

Some key concerns for the future park are safety, security, lighting, maintenance and cleanliness.

• Download the CTV News app to get breaking news alerts sent to your device

“Public spaces are for everyone out there, for all people of all ages, all abilities, and all backgrounds,” said Fix. “We really want to create this where people can come together in their differences, so we want to ensure that the process by which we develop that vision is equally as important.”

The community says that the City of Regina has not identified Rosary Park in its current budget, and that all funds to upgrade must be made within the community.

Some fund amounts for certain physical items are:

Benches (with concrete pad): $3,350

Shade Structure: $55,000

Spray Pad: $750,000 or more

Bike Rack (with concrete pad): $1,800

Tree: $1,800

Crusher Dust Pathway: $92/m2

Fix said that community volunteers will take what they learn from Saturday’s ideas, then detail a community vision report, which they will bring forward at the Cathedral Arts Festival this spring.

Following the festival, they’ll start their search for funding.