A PARK FOR ALL SEASONS
Anthony Thoen celebrates the groundbreaking ceremony at Optimist Hill in Diefenbaker Park on Friday, where a year-round recreation site is being built.
The long-awaited transformation of the hill at Diefenbaker Park is finally underway.
Members of the Optimist Club in Saskatoon officially broke ground on the Optimist Hill recreational park project on Friday morning at a ceremony filled with dignitaries and corporate sponsors. The goal of the Optimist Hill campaign is to create a recreation park that can be open year-round for activities such as snowboarding, skiing and tobogganing in the winter and mountain biking in the summer.
“It’s overwhelming, to be honest,” Optimist Hill campaign manager Joe Van’t Hof said.
“It’s such a long time coming. But we’re so incredibly excited about the work that’s been accomplished to date. And there’s a lot more work to come.”
The first part of the project will involve raising the height of the hill by approximately 30 feet, according to Van’t Hof. If all goes as expected during the construction process — which will involve removing earth from near the base of the hill to build up the top — the hill is expected to be open this winter for sledders.
Todd Peterson with Saskatchewan Blue Cross, a sponsor of the toboggan hill, said it’s important for the public to realize the new recreation park isn’t just for children.
“If anybody thinks this is just for kids, it’s for play,” Peterson said. “It’ll be a great thing ... to come out and have fun and play and celebrate community.”
Optimist Club member Todd Harms said he can’t wait to go sledding with his grandchildren on the new and improved hill.
“We usually spend New Year’s Eve out here tobogganing as it is,” Harms said with a laugh.
“People are going to realize now that it’s actually happening. To this point it’s just been a dream. “
Eight people involved with the Optimist Club and the Optimist Hill campaign placed shovels into a mound of specially prepared earth for the symbolic ground breaking. Among those in attendance for the events were MP Kevin Waugh and MLA Eric Olauson.
The first phase of the project is “75 to 80 per cent fully funded,” Van’t Hof said. The second phase, which will focus on a chalet-style building at the Optimist Hill site, will cost around $5 million. Fundraising is ongoing for that portion of the project.
People involved in the project are looking at the beginning of construction as a sign of positive things to come.
Optimist Club member Brad Sylvester said knowing they are close is making him excited for the winter.
“It’s real. It’s absolutely real. This is coming to Saskatoon,” he said.
“At some point in time, I’m going to take my grandkids on that hill ... I’m going to enjoy that ride with my grandkids.”