Wascana Centre

Wascana Centre is a large urban park covering 930 hectares, built around Wascana Lake in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. It was established in 1912 with a design by the famous architect Thomas Mawson. The park is centered around the impressive Saskatchewan Legislative Building and the beautiful Wascana Lake.

The park includes many important places such as the University of Regina, the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, the Conexus Arts Centre, the Saskatchewan Science Centre, and the CBC Regional Broadcast Centre. It brings together lands and buildings owned by the City of Regina, the University of Regina, and the Province of Saskatchewan.

Wascana Lake was created in 1883 by damming Wascana Creek to provide water for the town and railway. Over time, it became a popular spot for recreation. As Regina grew, the park faced pressure, leading to the creation of the Wascana Centre Authority in 1962 to protect and manage it. The authority was later dissolved in 2017, and management moved to the Saskatchewan government's Provincial Capital Commission.

History

The name "Wascana" comes from a Cree word meaning "pile of bones," named after the old bison bones found near Wascana Creek. Wascana Lake was made in 1883 by blocking the creek to give water to trains. Soon after, people began using the lake for fun activities like sailing and canoeing.

In 1905, when Regina became a capital, plans were made for a big building and a beautiful park around the lake. Famous architect Thomas Mawson designed the park in 1912, and his plans guided the park's growth for many years. Over time, the lake changed — it was once used for cooling machines, which kept some parts from freezing in winter, attracting birds. In the 1930s, the lake was made deeper as a job project, creating islands. In the early 2000s, the lake was dredged again to help keep the water clean and to make it better for canoeing and other sports. Today, the area includes the University of Regina and many other important places.

Statistics

Wascana Centre used to be one of the biggest urban parks in Canada. In 1968, a park called Pippy Park in St. John's, Newfoundland became larger than Wascana. Since then, many other big cities have added large parks too. Wascana Centre is bigger than Central Park in New York City and Stanley Park in Vancouver. Some say it is the fourth largest urban park in Canada.

Wascana Lake Urban Revitalization Project

The Wascana Lake Urban Revitalization Project, also called the Big Dig, was an $18 million effort to make Wascana Lake deeper. It happened during the winter of 2004.

Wascana Lake used to be much deeper, but over time, mud and weeds made it shallower. The project was paid for by the federal government, the Province of Saskatchewan, and the City of Regina.

Workers removed more than 1.3 million cubic metres of mud to deepen the lake. They also built new features, like a small island with paths and a waterfall, and added special filters to keep the water clean. New walkways were made around the lake, connecting different parts of the park. Today, Wascana Lake is a great place for water sports and enjoying nature.