Saskatoon receives federal funding for Green Network Project

Saskatoon is one of six cities to receive funding from Canada’s Natural Infrastructure Fund.

Twenty million dollars in federal funding will be used to enhance and fast-track the city’s Green Network Project.

Clae Hack, chief financial officer with the City of Saskatoon, said one of the reasons Saskatoon was invited to participate in the program was because of the “shovel-ready plans” the city had in place for the project.

The funding will be used to enhance the city’s natural green spaces through the restoration of existing areas like Meewasin Valley and the development of natural area management plans.

There isn’t one specific project the funding will support, Hack explained, as the city submitted 24 projects as part of the plan.

“It’s really broad, and you’ll see impacts of it throughout the city,” Hack said.

Some of these projects include the naturalization of the storm pond in the Kensington area, and street improvements to 20th Street between Idylwyld Drive and Second Avenue.

“For somebody in the community, it could be something as simple as seeing an improved park space in their community (or) more trees that are planted down an existing park path,” Hack said.

Hack said the city already had an investment of about $14 million into the project, and the new funding will allow the city to fast-track and enhance a lot of the plans that were already on the city’s books.

Because of Ottawa’s funding, the city can do more storm pond work, add more trees and invest in more cultural enhancements than what was in the original budget.

“Basically, we’re going to get more work done quicker as part of that green strategy that we’ve developed,” Hack said.

A full list of projects can be found on the City of Saskatoon’s website.