Wascana Centre

Wascana Centre is a big park in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. It covers 930 hectares and is built around Wascana Lake. The park was started in 1912 by famous architect Thomas Mawson. In the center of the park is the impressive Saskatchewan Legislative Building and the lovely Wascana Lake.

The park has many important places. You can find the University of Regina, the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, the Conexus Arts Centre, the Saskatchewan Science Centre, and the CBC Regional Broadcast Centre. The park includes lands and buildings owned by the City of Regina, the University of Regina, and the Province of Saskatchewan.

Wascana Lake was made in 1883 by damming Wascana Creek to give water to the town and the railway. Over time, the lake became a favorite place for fun activities. As Regina grew, the park needed protection. In 1962, the Wascana Centre Authority was created to manage and protect the park. In 2017, this authority was closed, and management moved to the Saskatchewan government's Provincial Capital Commission.

History

The name "Wascana" comes from a Cree word meaning "pile of bones." This name refers to old bison bones found near Wascana Creek.

Wascana Lake was created in 1883 by damming a creek. It quickly became a popular spot for people to enjoy sailing and canoeing. In 1905, the new government planned to build a capital building in Regina and asked an architect to design the area around the lake. By 1912, another architect named Thomas Mawson created a plan that guided the park’s development for many years.

The lake was used for many purposes over time, including providing water for animals and cooling machinery. This caused part of the lake to stay unfrozen in winter, attracting birds that now stay there year-round. In the 1930s, the lake was drained and made deeper to give work to many people. Later, in the early 2000s, the lake was again drained and deepened to improve water quality and make it better for canoeing and other activities. Today, the area includes several islands and is used for many events and sports.

Statistics

Wascana Centre used to be one of the biggest city parks in Canada. A bigger park called Pippy Park was built in 1968. Since then, many other big parks have been made. Wascana Centre is still bigger than famous parks like New York City's Central Park and Vancouver's Stanley Park. Some say it is the fourth largest city park in Canada.

Wascana Lake Urban Revitalization Project

The Wascana Lake Urban Revitalization Project, also called the Big Dig, was a big effort to make Wascana Lake deeper. It happened during the winter of 2004.

Long ago, in the 1930s, Wascana Lake was emptied so workers could widen and clean the lake bed and make two islands using hand tools and horse-drawn wagons. By 2003, the lake had become much shallower because of dirt and mud building up at the bottom, and it was full of weeds.

The project was paid for by three levels of government: the Government of Canada, the Province of Saskatchewan, and the City of Regina.

Workers used big machines to dig out more than 1.3 million cubic metres of dirt from the lake bottom between January 6 and March 21, working around the clock. They made the lake 5.5 metres deep overall, with one part even deeper at 7.5 metres to help fish live.

Besides making the lake deeper, they also built new features. They made a new island near the Broad Street Bridge, adding a bridge for people to walk on, paths for walking, and a waterfall. This spot is great for watching canoe and kayak races. In 2014, groups finished building a tall tower on Pine Island to mark the finish line for races.

They also put in special filters in the lake to add oxygen to the water, helping plants and animals live there. A big fountain was placed in the middle of the lake, right across from the legislative building. A new walking path was built next to the Albert Street Bridge, connecting paths on both sides of the lake. The south path now goes under the Broad Street Bridge, linking the east and west areas for fun and recreation.