Co-op donates $150,000 to Optimist Hill snow park

Saskatoon is one step closer to having its own winter recreation park thanks to new funding from Co-op.

The Optimist Club of Saskatoon, the group in charge of planning the Optimist Hill initiative at Diefenbaker Hill, received $150,000 from the Co-op Community Spaces program for the project.

“It’s the largest donation, to date, that we’ve received,” said Robert Letts, chairman of the Optimist Hill Campaign, at an event announcing the donation on Tuesday. “It’s going to go a long ways to getting this project up and running here in Saskatoon.”

The Optimist Hill project includes raising the existing hill at Diefenbaker Park by about 30 feet to be able to accommodate more sledding and tubing, as well as make it possible for skiers and snowboarders to have fun at the park. A chalet is also planned.

Letts said the Optimist Hill project is about “three-quarters” of the way to getting started, thanks to the funding from Co-op.

The Community Spaces program received more than 1,000 applications for funding, and Saskatoon’s Optimist Hill was one of 27 selected from across western Canada. Grant Wicks, general manager of Saskatoon Co-op, said the Saskatoon project stands out for several reasons.

“It’s here for just about anybody ... anybody who can find something to slide down a hill on and can get themselves here is going to be able to take advantage of it,” he said.

The project will bring people out to have fun, regardless of their training or equipment, he said.

“Let’s face it: we’re Canadians. If we hide all winter long, we’re going to be hiding all the time,” said Vic Huard, executive vice-president of strategy for Federated Co-operatives Ltd. in Saskatoon. “So if you can get people out and active in the winter, I think everybody wins.”

The Community Spaces program takes three key factors into account, according to Huard: urban agriculture, recreation, and environmental sustainability. Huard said this project fits well into those themes, even if it fits the category of recreation most heavily.

“The more you make green spaces places people come to and use, the more people are conscious of the need to have them,” he said.

Work on the project is beginning to move along more quickly now. The Optimist Club selected Catterall and Wright Consulting Engineers to be the lead project managers.

If you can get people out and active in the winter, I think everybody wins.