Phase one of The Skuare in downtown Regina is now open to the public. Located next to Pat Fiacco Plaza, the 6,000-square-foot area has been turned into an activity zone. Games such as bocce, ladder ball and giant chess can be played. Casual seating is also available. “We’re doing this for the community,” said Judith Veresuk, the executive director of the Regina Downtown Business Improvement District. “We want to make sure that people [who] are really tired of seeing a dusty lot for the last three or four years have something to enjoy.” A sod turning ceremony on the property took place in October of 2024. The project was set to be finished in 2025. A building on the property was part of the original planning, but it was demolished. This opened up more space for the project and led planners back to resigning The Skuare. “Once we knew that we wanted to do a bit of a redesign, we knew that would push the development into 2027. We didn’t want to have this vacant for the rest of the year,” Veresuk said. The project received $1.5 million in funding. As part of the planning, a liquor licence for the space will be obtained. A performance space and food vendors are also in the works. “The goal is the more people we have downtown the, better. Activating a space in the near-term, I’d rather see that than something that is vacant,” said Mayor Chad Bachynski. Public use and feedback gathered during the rest of the summer will directly inform the design phase two of The Skuare. The Skuare will be open until Oct 10.
